Kerry Searle Grannis

Leadership Advisory & Performance Coach
Non-Profit & Higher Ed Executive
Ph.D.

Kerry Searle Grannis came to leadership through literature: a PhD in American Literature trained her to pay close attention, and she has been applying that attention to organizations and the people in them ever since. She spent eleven years at The Brookings Institution—ultimately as Vice President for Institutional Affairs—building the cultures, systems, and management practices that allow mission-driven organizations to do their best work. She now serves as Senior Associate Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at UVA's College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. KSG Coaching grew from that same conviction: that how organizations treat the people inside them is not separate from their mission, but central to it.

A proud generalist with twenty-five years of experience across higher education, public policy, and social services, Kerry brings curiosity, empathy, and hard-won organizational experience to her coaching practice. She is a graduate of Brown University's Leadership & Performance Coaching program, and finds deep satisfaction in helping individuals and teams discover what helps them thrive — and what holds them back. Her personal essays are collected at get softer.

Get in touch
Get in touch

Working with Kerry

  • “Working with Kerry taught me how to move forward with complex projects involving a wide array of actors across my university.  As an academic in a senior leadership role, she gave me vital insights into aspects of my job that I had never been taught to navigate.   Through her coaching I discovered ways to become more productive and more satisfied with my life as a whole."

    — China Scherz, Professor, University of Notre Dame

  • "Kerry Grannis is one of those rare people who combines a brilliant analytical mind with deep emotional intelligence. She excels as both a listener and advisor, providing valuable guidance to tackle management challenges and foster leadership growth. I attribute much of my professional development to Kerry's influence."

    — Ted Gayer, President, The Niskanen Center

  • "Talking to Kerry feels like chatting with a smart, insightful, warm friend. She puts you at ease right away; she’s open and nonjudgmental, while gently pushing you to challenge yourself by thinking in new and creative ways."

    — Stephanie Cencula, Associate Director, The Brookings Institution

  • “I was able to break out of my usual patterns of thought and see new approaches that I had never seen before. I learned something new about myself and found a kinder and broader perspective with which to approach myself and any professional challenges that come my way. This self growth and discovery was beyond anything I thought possible when we first began.”

    - Maureen H., Public Policy Communications