Kacey Hebert
Kacey Hebert is the Director of International Partnerships and Business Development at Clauger, an international leader in air treatment processes and industrial refrigeration, where she drives global strategy, partnership development, and business growth across international markets. With 8 years of professional experience, her career has followed a strategic yet unconventional path. She began as a U.S. Marketing Manager, working directly with the CEO to support the development and expansion of Clauger’s U.S. market presence during a period of strategic growth. In this role, she quickly built expertise in marketing strategy, business development, and executive collaboration. She later transitioned into international marketing, sales, and product development roles supporting multiple global subsidiaries, ultimately advancing into her current leadership role in international partnerships and business development.
In her current role, Kacey manages a global ecosystem of partnerships that includes internal teams, clients, industry associations, and external stakeholders. She focuses on aligning marketing, sales, and innovation initiatives with Clauger’s global business objectives while strengthening long-term strategic relationships across regions. Her work is highly international in scope, with daily collaboration across Europe and the Americas. Mornings are often spent coordinating with European partners in countries such as France, Italy, and Spain, followed by afternoons dedicated to projects and business operations across the Americas. She frequently represents the organization at international conferences, client meetings, and industry events, presenting Clauger’s solutions while building cross-cultural business relationships. Her ability to navigate complex global environments and manage multicultural teams is one of her defining professional strengths.
One of Kacey’s most significant accomplishments was leading a year-long marketing and cultural integration initiative following a major multinational acquisition involving approximately 500 employees across Spain and Italy. The initiative focused on preserving team stability, maintaining client relationships, and ensuring operational continuity during the transition. Through strategic communication planning, stakeholder engagement, and change management execution, the project successfully achieved its goals of minimizing employee turnover and protecting customer partnerships. She holds an MBA from Hult International Business School and a Master of Education from Centenary College of Louisiana. Outside of work, Kacey enjoys learning about global cultures, traveling, and expanding her international perspective. She values building meaningful relationships across diverse environments while maintaining balance as she pursues ambitious professional and leadership goals.
• Creating a Communications Strategy
• Hult International Business School - MBA, International Business
• Centenary College of Louisiana - MEd
• Louisiana State University - BA, International Relations and Affairs
• Dean's List
• IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Women's Group
• Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni
What do you attribute your success to?
Kacey attributes her success to adaptability, curiosity, and viewing every role as preparation for the next opportunity. She believes in continuous growth, staying current with emerging tools such as AI, and maintaining a strong human-centered approach to business. Her ability to navigate cultural differences and evolving organizational landscapes has been foundational to her advancement.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received came from my CEO and a senior colleague in the French market, both of whom have been influential mentors throughout my career. Their guidance has helped me navigate international leadership dynamics, strengthen my strategic decision-making, and grow into more executive-level responsibilities. I have learned the importance of thinking long-term, building strong relationships across cultures and business functions, and always approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Their mentorship has been instrumental in helping me expand my confidence, broaden my perspective, and continuously push myself to grow both personally and professionally.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Everything that you're doing now is preparing you for your future. Anything that you think might not be the right fit, you'll take away something from it. Use it as a learning experience, because it is putting you on the path of where you will be one day. I fell into this industry completely by accident. I was a teacher, moved to France, came back for my MBA, and found this role because it required French and English. I had never even heard of industrial refrigeration before my interview, but a few weeks later I moved from Boston to Chicago and started this journey. Every role I've had, from teaching to marketing manager to my current director position, has built on the one before it. So don't discount any experience, even if it doesn't seem like the perfect fit at the time.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is such a big part of our world now, and I don't see that changing. One of my mentors, my boss, is a huge AI advocate, so I've been using it since basically it was in the testing and very first stages of deployment. I think it's important to stay updated with what's coming with AI. It's changing so fast that sometimes it feels overwhelming, but it's important to know some of the key skills to effectively use these new tools. At the same time, we can't forget that the human aspect is still what makes the job impactful. Tools are always going to be just a support and something to make you do your job better. The challenge is keeping up with the rapid pace of change while remembering that technology should enhance, not replace, the human connections that drive real business impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Kacey values growth, collaboration, integrity, and global perspective. She believes in staying agile in rapidly evolving industries while preserving authentic human connection in leadership. Personally and professionally, she prioritizes resilience, cultural respect, and continuous self-improvement.