Kristen Ziman

Kristen Ziman is a transformative leader, consultant and keynote speaker with a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in public safety and organizational leadership. Recognized for her ability to inspire change and optimize performance, Ziman blends academic excellence with practical expertise to guide organizations through leadership challenges and cultural evolution.   

Ziman began her career with the Aurora Police Department in 1991 and ascended through the ranks, becoming the first female Chief of Police in Aurora, Illinois, in 2016. Her leadership was tested during the tragic 2019 mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company, where five civilians and five officers were shot. Drawing from this experience, she has made it her mission to help organizations prepare for and prevent mass violence through risk management and crisis leadership consulting.   

Ziman holds two master’s degrees: one from Boston University and another in Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. She also completed executive education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Kellogg Women’s Senior Leadership Program at Northwestern University. Ziman is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).   

Since retiring from law enforcement, Ziman has founded a consulting firm, delivering over 100 keynotes and workshops worldwide. Her areas of expertise include leadership, cultural transformation and empowering organizations to achieve excellence. She is the author of "Reimagining Blue," a compelling memoir that examines leadership, resilience and the power of optimism through her lens as a police chief.   

Ziman's expertise has earned her a place on the Mass Violence Advisory Board for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and is part of the U.S. Department of Justice team reviewing the Uvalde massacre.   

Through her consulting and public speaking, Ziman continues to empower leaders across industries to create meaningful change and foster cultures of accountability and innovation.