About Katherine

Katherine Smith Dedrick has been an attorney for almost thirty years. In 2003 received her MBA from the University of Chicago, studying in Chicago, Barcelona and Singapore. Throughout her legal career she has held numerous positions including serving on the management arm of a national law firm with over 400 lawyers, chairing a firm’s diversity committee and as partner. Katherine is currently a partner in a law firm based in Chicago, a member of a consulting company focusing on risk management and she sits as an independent trustee for a mutual fund company.

Katherine received the Women With Vision (Law) Award, presented by the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and the Mercedes Mentor Award presented by Mercedes, USA, Chicago Magazine and Chicago Junior Women’s League. Katherine also founded and chaired Women For Achievement, a not-for-profit company created to assist disadvantaged high school women achieve their career goals.

Without question, however, her greatest accomplishment is her two daughters, Alexandra and Francesca, whom she has raised on her own since they were two years and six weeks old. Her greatest blessings are her friends, who come from all walks of life, and have been there whenever she needed them, every step of the way.

Speaking and Events

Find out about Katherine’s upcoming speaking events.