Sincerely, Katherine.: Life, Gender, Inclusivity, and Leadership for the Future

Facing our greatest fears is the pathway to the kind, inclusive, and sustainable world we all long for.

Imagine holding a secret so big that sharing it could mean destroying the life you built and hurting those you love.

Imagine sharing and embracing a secret so powerful that it could transform your life, your relationships, and how you see and lead in the world.

As one of Canada’s most senior and recognized corporate executives, Katherine Dudtschak had a masculine name and appearance that did not reflect her truth. She had built a life of material success, yet something essential was missing.

Katherine was born to immigrant parents who came to Canada after surviving World War II camps. Her early years were marked with post-war trauma, financial stress, and learning difficulties.
Fueled by a passion for a better life, she became a loving parent to four children and a top executive at Canada’s largest bank. But everything changed in a moment while visiting her daughter’s university dorm. A gender inclusivity poster spoke to a truth she’d buried deep inside. She saw Katherine: the woman and the essence of who she had always been.

At 50, she affirmed her gender, coming out as Katherine to the corporate world in front of 80,000 colleagues. Her courage proved that authenticity and leadership are not only compatible but essential. Katherine ignited change, inspiring a more inclusive and compassionate approach to leadership. She amplified voices from all walks of life, especially those who knew hardship, adversity, and the feelings of not belonging. She created space for human uniqueness to be seen and valued as a vital ingredient in building the kind, inclusive, and sustainable world we long for.

Sincerely, Katherine. is a story of resilience, self-love, and the profound impact of leading with authenticity, inclusivity, and purpose. She inspires each of us to foster a harmony within ourselves, and with each other and the natural world we are part of and share.

Katherine Dudtschak is one of Canada’s most recognized leaders. She is the President and CEO of one of Canada’s fastest growing and purpose-driven banks. She has served as a CEO, leading the repositioning of a bank in 19 countries, and leading a team of over 25,000 advisors who steward over 15 million client relationships. She has received many honours, including Norway’s Social Human Equity Conference recognition, the Business Leaders’ Honours Award from Catalyst Canada, and the Legacy Award from CGLCC.

Katherine is a community builder, investing her efforts in the areas of human rights, mental health, immigration, poverty prevention, education, and economic development. She founded Incluvest Foundation, and sits on the boards of United Way Greater Toronto and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Katherine grew up on a small farm in Southern Ontario and is a proud mother of four children. She holds an MBA and ICD.D designation, and lives in Toronto and Prince Edward County.