Kathryn Iklé (pronounced E-clay) is a Dallas, Texas-based UX leader, consultant, mentor, speaker, creative, and versatile artist with more than 20 years of experience spanning user experience, design, research, digital strategy, marketing, agile transformation, AI, product innovation, and technology.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Kathryn is a graduate of Hutchison School, where she received the Art Purchase Award for an acrylic portrait painting that remains in the school’s permanent collection. During her high school years, she also served in an archival role as an assistant archivist for Hutchison School, helping preserve school history and records. She additionally participated in numerous service initiatives, including ministering to senior adults in assisted living communities.
Kathryn studied art and philosophy at Rhodes College, where she earned design awards for the Film Society Logo Design and Wireless Logo Design contests. She supported the school’s Christian student organization on campus by creating promotional materials, as well as organizing and hosting a campus-wide music concert in the amphitheater.
She later attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, where she majored in Graphic Design and earned an advertising award from the Advertising Association of Waco, TX. Returning to Memphis, TN, she completed a degree in Marketing and Art from University of Memphis, where she curated an art exhibition at Opera Memphis benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Kathryn began her professional career working for Disciple Design, a division of Thompson & Company, a well-known local advertising company. While there, she further developed her eye for advertising and design. She then took on a sales, marketing, and events role at the Memphis Business Journal, creating advertisements for the newspaper, developing client relationships, generating revenue, and organizing major awards banquets such as Health Care Heroes and Top 40 Under 40 recognizing businesses and professionals in the community. Moving into the non-profit industry, she worked in Donor Relations for ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she supported critical fundraising efforts for the hospital.
When the 2008 recession hit, she left ALSAC, St. Jude, to start her own e-commerce business, Iklé Creative Designs. She built the business from ground up, offering custom furniture, art, and accessories to clients. When asked what her goal was for her business, she replied, “I wanted to provide unique, affordable, and functional services and products to people who were going through a tough time in the recession.” Needless to say, her knack for business thrived and so did Iklé Creative Designs.
Several years later, Kathryn returned to the non-profit world at Bellevue Baptist Church. Starting in the Pastoral Care department, she developed relationships with members and guests and assisted with the organization of church-wide projects. Soon after, she was promoted to Director of Hospitality and Events Management. She managed over 80 volunteers and staff, as well as recruited and worked with members for essential committees. She developed policies and procedures to utilize resources more effectively, incorporated new ideas to engage members and guests, enhanced the organization's website, implemented an online payment system, and assisted in promoting and managing major events such as banquets, weddings, and the well-known Singing Christmas Tree.
Kathryn has been very active in supporting the community. For many years, she showcased her art and custom-made furniture at the Junior League of Memphis Annual Art Show and Auction with proceeds benefiting Hope House, a local charity. She donated a custom furniture piece to St. Mary’s Episcopal School for their Spring Fling Art Auction to aid in annual fundraising efforts, and she has coached Middle School girls volleyball at Evangelical Christian School.
Kathryn has taught both youth and adult art, creating and writing her own unique art education curriculum. She is a natural teacher - encouraging students to develop an appreciation for art, learning, and the world around them - and has partnered with many organizations such as the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy for their Arts in the Park program.
From producing art education social media videos for the Germantown Community Library to hosting art classes for senior living communities and corporate networking events, Kathryn loves to take her gifts, talents, and time, and invest in the lives of others.
Kathryn has established a well-known reputation as a leader in the UX, technology, and creative industries. She worked at FedEx as the User Experience Lead in Digital User Experience. She developed innovative strategies and created outstanding digital experiences for the FedEx Mobile App and other global digital platforms.
After being recruited to Dallas by Topgolf Entertainment Group in 2019, Kathryn joined the company as the User Experience/Business Analyst Leader. In this role, she spearheaded strategic initiatives, led cross-functional teams, and established a UX Center of Excellence to elevate digital experiences and drive innovation across the organization.
She later served as the Creative Director for Global Genes, where she drove a comprehensive brand and marketing transformation for the global rare disease advocacy community. She also held the position of Vice President of Strategy & Design, Design Operations at Citigroup, leading large-scale design operations and strategic initiatives across enterprise platforms.
She also previously served as a Display Artist at NorthPark Anthropologie, where she translated her artistic vision into immersive retail environments and elevated visual merchandising experiences.
Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Collin County History Museum McKinney, TX and the Head of UX & Marketing at Third Entity, offering business and consulting services. Her extensive industry knowledge has enabled her to offer creative and strategic services to a variety of individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Many have benefited from her problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. She was named one of the top ten leading executive coaches in Texas. Clients testify that she takes vision to a whole new level, offering new and fresh solutions to any challenge.
She also holds advanced certifications in:
In addition, she co-hosts The Well with Kat and Drew: The Source of Something Greater with Andrew Leff, a weekly podcast exploring identity, growth, faith, relationships, and the courage to live without filters.
Kathryn is very involved in the Dallas arts community. She is an advocate for the arts and is always looking for opportunities to collaborate and support other creatives, frequently serving as a guest judge for design and art events. In addition, she mentors, facilitates workshops, speaks at events, and serves on panels, sharing her expertise and passion for creativity and community engagement.
She currently serves as:
Kathryn's art has been recognized by Art & Color 365, CanvasRebel, Bold Journey, and all SHE makes magazines. Her art can be found in permanent collections at the Hutchison School, Memphis, TN, at the award-winning Art Center in Dover, New Hampshire, and The Shop Club, Dallas, Texas. In addition, Kathryn's work has been available at galleries such as Gallery DeFi in Dallas, TX, McKinney Art Gallery in McKinney, TX, Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX, and is currently available via her online shop.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Kathryn is a graduate of Hutchison School, where she received the Art Purchase Award for an acrylic portrait painting that remains in the school’s permanent collection. During her high school years, she also served in an archival role as an assistant archivist for Hutchison School, helping preserve school history and records. She additionally participated in numerous service initiatives, including ministering to senior adults in assisted living communities.
Kathryn studied art and philosophy at Rhodes College, where she earned design awards for the Film Society Logo Design and Wireless Logo Design contests. She supported the school’s Christian student organization on campus by creating promotional materials, as well as organizing and hosting a campus-wide music concert in the amphitheater.
She later attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, where she majored in Graphic Design and earned an advertising award from the Advertising Association of Waco, TX. Returning to Memphis, TN, she completed a degree in Marketing and Art from University of Memphis, where she curated an art exhibition at Opera Memphis benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Kathryn began her professional career working for Disciple Design, a division of Thompson & Company, a well-known local advertising company. While there, she further developed her eye for advertising and design. She then took on a sales, marketing, and events role at the Memphis Business Journal, creating advertisements for the newspaper, developing client relationships, generating revenue, and organizing major awards banquets such as Health Care Heroes and Top 40 Under 40 recognizing businesses and professionals in the community. Moving into the non-profit industry, she worked in Donor Relations for ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she supported critical fundraising efforts for the hospital.
When the 2008 recession hit, she left ALSAC, St. Jude, to start her own e-commerce business, Iklé Creative Designs. She built the business from ground up, offering custom furniture, art, and accessories to clients. When asked what her goal was for her business, she replied, “I wanted to provide unique, affordable, and functional services and products to people who were going through a tough time in the recession.” Needless to say, her knack for business thrived and so did Iklé Creative Designs.
Several years later, Kathryn returned to the non-profit world at Bellevue Baptist Church. Starting in the Pastoral Care department, she developed relationships with members and guests and assisted with the organization of church-wide projects. Soon after, she was promoted to Director of Hospitality and Events Management. She managed over 80 volunteers and staff, as well as recruited and worked with members for essential committees. She developed policies and procedures to utilize resources more effectively, incorporated new ideas to engage members and guests, enhanced the organization's website, implemented an online payment system, and assisted in promoting and managing major events such as banquets, weddings, and the well-known Singing Christmas Tree.
Kathryn has been very active in supporting the community. For many years, she showcased her art and custom-made furniture at the Junior League of Memphis Annual Art Show and Auction with proceeds benefiting Hope House, a local charity. She donated a custom furniture piece to St. Mary’s Episcopal School for their Spring Fling Art Auction to aid in annual fundraising efforts, and she has coached Middle School girls volleyball at Evangelical Christian School.
Kathryn has taught both youth and adult art, creating and writing her own unique art education curriculum. She is a natural teacher - encouraging students to develop an appreciation for art, learning, and the world around them - and has partnered with many organizations such as the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy for their Arts in the Park program.
From producing art education social media videos for the Germantown Community Library to hosting art classes for senior living communities and corporate networking events, Kathryn loves to take her gifts, talents, and time, and invest in the lives of others.
Kathryn has established a well-known reputation as a leader in the UX, technology, and creative industries. She worked at FedEx as the User Experience Lead in Digital User Experience. She developed innovative strategies and created outstanding digital experiences for the FedEx Mobile App and other global digital platforms.
After being recruited to Dallas by Topgolf Entertainment Group in 2019, Kathryn joined the company as the User Experience/Business Analyst Leader. In this role, she spearheaded strategic initiatives, led cross-functional teams, and established a UX Center of Excellence to elevate digital experiences and drive innovation across the organization.
She later served as the Creative Director for Global Genes, where she drove a comprehensive brand and marketing transformation for the global rare disease advocacy community. She also held the position of Vice President of Strategy & Design, Design Operations at Citigroup, leading large-scale design operations and strategic initiatives across enterprise platforms.
She also previously served as a Display Artist at NorthPark Anthropologie, where she translated her artistic vision into immersive retail environments and elevated visual merchandising experiences.
Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Collin County History Museum McKinney, TX and the Head of UX & Marketing at Third Entity, offering business and consulting services. Her extensive industry knowledge has enabled her to offer creative and strategic services to a variety of individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Many have benefited from her problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. She was named one of the top ten leading executive coaches in Texas. Clients testify that she takes vision to a whole new level, offering new and fresh solutions to any challenge.
She also holds advanced certifications in:
- Agentic AI & AI Agents for Leaders – Vanderbilt University
- Museum Studies – Harvard University
- Civic Engagement – Harvard University
- Accessibility and Inclusive Design – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
In addition, she co-hosts The Well with Kat and Drew: The Source of Something Greater with Andrew Leff, a weekly podcast exploring identity, growth, faith, relationships, and the courage to live without filters.
Kathryn is very involved in the Dallas arts community. She is an advocate for the arts and is always looking for opportunities to collaborate and support other creatives, frequently serving as a guest judge for design and art events. In addition, she mentors, facilitates workshops, speaks at events, and serves on panels, sharing her expertise and passion for creativity and community engagement.
She currently serves as:
- President of the Art Club of McKinney
- President of AIGA Dallas (American Institute of Graphic Arts)
- Directory Chair, Dallas Museum of Art League
- Website Administrator, Dallas Arboretum Women’s Council
- Board Member, InSight Arts
Kathryn's art has been recognized by Art & Color 365, CanvasRebel, Bold Journey, and all SHE makes magazines. Her art can be found in permanent collections at the Hutchison School, Memphis, TN, at the award-winning Art Center in Dover, New Hampshire, and The Shop Club, Dallas, Texas. In addition, Kathryn's work has been available at galleries such as Gallery DeFi in Dallas, TX, McKinney Art Gallery in McKinney, TX, Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX, and is currently available via her online shop.
All Images & Text Copyright 2022 Kathryn Ikle, Ikle Creative Designs All Rights Reserved