[New Episode – Profiles in Leadership: Kate Hudson]

Delighted to speak with Kate Hudson, MA, JD, MPAP, Deputy Vice President and Counsel for Government Relations and Public Policy at the Association of American Universities (AAU). Our conversation is a reminder that leadership isn’t just about credentials. It’s also about courage, conviction, and the capacity to serve others.

Kate’s path spans public defense, federal litigation, national policy, and parenting as a military spouse. She has led on privacy, intellectual property, and export controls, and now advocates on behalf of leading research universities on some of the most pressing issues of our time.

What we talked about:

– Growing up in the Midwest and discovering a calling in public service at age 16

– Navigating life as an Army spouse

– Practicing public interest law in rural Georgia and launching a solo firm in North Carolina

– The emotional toll and moral clarity of public defense

– Joining the federal government and the OPM cyberbreach

– Leading national IP and higher ed policy at AAU, including AAU’s recent lawsuit against federal agencies over research funding caps

– Parenting a teenager on the autism spectrum and embracing vulnerability as strength

– Championing servant leadership by leading from behind and uplifting others

Kate’s journey is one of purpose, resilience, and servant leadership — a masterclass in how diverse experiences can converge to create a life of public impact.

Watch our full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9z2XrTc3Q4

#Leadership #ProfilesInLeadership #HigherEd #IPLaw #PublicService #AutismAwareness #WomenInLaw #ServantLeadership #InnovationPolicy #MilitarySpouse #PublicPolicy