Katie Perera

I’m a Senior Program Manager in Human Resources at Navy Federal Credit Union, where I lead executive leadership development experiences for senior leaders. I’ve spent the past 10 years in HR and leadership development, focused on creating programs that help leaders think more strategically, connect more deeply, and lead with intention.

My path into this work wasn’t linear. I studied world politics and diplomacy and didn’t initially see the connection to HR until I interned at a large organization in New York City and shadowed an HR generalist. That experience changed everything—I found my way into learning and development and haven’t looked back since.

I started my HR career at Hilton in 2016, first as a contractor supporting their talent and leadership development team, and eventually moved into a full-time role focused on executive development. While there, I helped launch Hilton’s first executive development program in 2018 and later had the opportunity to scale virtual leadership development globally during COVID. That work reached leaders across the organization and was one of the most impactful experiences of my early career.

About two years ago, I joined Navy Federal at a point where the organization was rethinking its approach to leadership development. Since then, I’ve helped build new programs for Assistant Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, defined a broader executive learning journey, and most recently launched the Executive Impact Program—our capstone experience for VP-level leaders.

What draws me to this work is the exponential impact. When you invest in leaders at this level, it changes how entire organizations operate. But I’ve also seen that these leaders rarely get the space to pause, reflect, and challenge their own thinking. Creating that space—where leaders can step back, look inward, and grow alongside peers—is what I care most about.

That’s really at the heart of my work and my personal mission: creating space for transformational growth through reflection and awareness.

Outside of work, I’m a wife and mom of two littles, which has given me a whole new perspective on leadership and the kind of workplace I hope we continue to build for the next generation.