Kristen Kavanaugh

Kristen Kavanaugh is the cofounder and CEO of The Agency Initiative, an organizational effectiveness and leadership development consulting firm dedicated to creating a world with more leaders and organizations choosing courage in their most critical moments. She served as the vice chair of the Department of Defense’s inaugural Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion until it was disbanded by the Trump administration in 2025. For nearly six years, she served as the senior director of inclusion, talent, and learning at Tesla, where she led the DEI, talent management, and learning and development functions for the global organization. Kristen holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy.