Kathleen Buse

Starting at the Eastman Kodak Company as an engineer, Kathleen Buse has worked in various technical and management roles for more than 25 years. As an engineer, she has developed new products, designed new systems and led continuous improvement of products and processes. She has managed engineering, operations, IT, plant and facilities maintenance, product development and quality functions. Areas of technical expertise include manufacturing and associated engineered processes such as new product development and technology transfer, systems design, applied automation and controls, information systems, quality systems and process safety management.

Buse obtained her PhD in management: Designing Sustainable Systems from Weatherhead. Her research interests have been framed by her practical experience in technology-driven and male-dominated organizations. Her research has focused on women who persist in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions and has examined leadership development, women in leadership and women’s careers—especially women in engineering and other STEM fields.

Buse’s work focuses on understanding the complex factors involved with retaining women in engineering and other STEM careers. She has presented her award-winning research at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, the Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference for Women Engineers and Case Western Reserve University’s Research ShowCASE.

Before earning her PhD at CWRU, Buse earned her BS in chemical engineering and engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University and an MS in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. She teaches as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve in both the Weatherhead School of Management and the Institute for Management and Engineering. She teaches classes on product design, materials and manufacturing, marketing and research practices. Buse also works as a management consultant and career coach specifically targeting women in leadership and STEM careers.

Education

• PhD Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management (2008 — 2012)
• Master of Science - MS Rochester Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Science - BS Carnegie Mellon University

Companies

• President Advancing Women in the Workforce (2020)
• Director ERC (2019 — 2020)
• Director, Women's Leadership Institute ERC (2018 — 2020)
• President and Founder Advancing Women in STEM (2014 — 2018)
• President and Founder Advancing Women in the Workforce (2014 — 2018)
• Adjunct Professor, Design & Innovation and Doctor of Management Program Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (2011 — 2017)
• Researcher Case Western Reserve University (2010 — 2017)
• Faculty Director and Co-Creator, Leadership Lab for Women Case Western Reserve University (2013 — 2017)
• Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Quality Sherwin-Williams (2004 — 2007)