Influential Woman · Business Operations
Kim LaDuke
VP of Operations, KO Strategies
Manchester, NH 03102
Her Story
About Kim
Kim LaDuke is an operational strategist, healthcare leader, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience transforming strategy into practical, executable systems.
As the founder of KO Strategies and creator of the Strategy to Scale™ framework, she helps small business owners bridge the gap between vision and execution — developing clear operational roadmaps that align strategy with day-to-day action.
Her work focuses on creating structure, accountability, and sustainable growth, enabling organizations to scale without the chaos that often accompanies expansion.
Kim began her career as a registered nurse after earning her degree from Regis College — but quickly discovered her passion for the operational side of healthcare. Mentored by leaders who recognized her talent for systems thinking, she transitioned into operations and built a distinguished career leading teams, streamlining workflows, and improving organizational performance.
Throughout her tenure at organizations including Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home and Abernathy Home Care, she has held leadership roles from Director of Operations to Vice President, consistently delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
Kim is deeply committed to empowering business owners and developing future leaders. Through Strategy to Scale™, she works closely with entrepreneurs — particularly women-owned businesses — to help them gain clarity, prioritize effectively, and execute with confidence.
Outside of business, she serves as a Boxing Commissioner for the State of New Hampshire and Strategic Advisor for GIRL Boxing Club, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting young female athletes.
Known for her transparent leadership style, belief in creative problem-solving, and passion for helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential — Kim draws on lessons learned through both professional success and personal challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kim
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly? Two women who believed in me before I believed in myself.
I graduated nursing school and quickly realized the bedside wasn't for me. Instead of giving up, I found my way to the business side of healthcare and that's where everything changed. A CEO of a home care agency took me under her wing and taught me the operations side of the industry from the ground up.
Then another woman empowered me to run her agency. She trusted me, and I didn't take that lightly. We built that business together and expanded to three additional offices.
Without those two women investing in me, I'm not sitting here today. I attribute my success to people who saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to prove it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Work smarter, not harder and it changed everything about how I operate.
I stopped trying to do it all myself and started building teams, creating automations, and streamlining workflows. Because at the end of the day, your time is your most valuable asset. The goal isn't to be the busiest person in the room — it's to build something that runs efficiently and gives you the freedom to focus on what actually moves the needle.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do what blows your hair back. I tell my daughter that all the time. You're going to spend 40, 50 hours a week working; it better be something that lights you up, not just a paycheck.
And you don't have to have it all figured out to take the next step. Don't let fear keep you stuck. Just keep moving forward things will come together.
I've been through cancer, a divorce, pivoted more times than I can count. Every time I thought I lost something, I actually gained experience that led me somewhere better. The pivot isn't the end, it's just the next chapter.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I see is that businesses are great at planning but terrible at executing. Everyone has a vision, a strategic plan, a deck but then nothing actually moves. The ideas sit in a meeting room and collect dust.
The real work is in the how. How do you prioritize? Who's accountable? What systems do you have in place to actually get things done? That's where most organizations fall apart.
But that's also the opportunity. When you bring clarity to the chaos, build the right team, the right processes, the right structure that is when everything changes. That's what gets me excited. I love walking into an organization that feels stuck and helping them finally start moving.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My work values and personal values are really the same, they're not separate for me.
Family and health come first. Always. Money is necessary, but it's not the driver. If I can figure out how to work smart, take care of myself, and still be present for the people I love, that's the win.
Beyond that, I lead with transparency and honesty. I'll call a spade a spade. Some people might find that abrupt, but I'd rather be straight with you than have you guessing where you stand. I think that's actually what makes me effective in operations, people know exactly where they stand and what's expected. There's no gray area.
At the end of the day, you can't lead others well if you're not living with integrity yourself. That's the only way to go.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · New Hampshire
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.