About Slate Seven
From Start-Up Vision to Scalable Execution
Whether you're building your first business or optimizing a $50M operation, Slate Seven exists to bridge the gap between ideas and execution. We embed systems, people, and technology to reduce founder dependency, unlock capacity, and scale what works.
We serve two growth paths:
Founders building toward their first $5M who are seeking clarity, structure, and a roadmap that drives traction
Established businesses ($10M+) ready to streamline operations, embed AI, and drive EBITDA and valuation growth
No matter your stage, traction comes down to the same thing: aligned teams, repeatable systems, and execution that scales.
Why We Exist
Too many businesses—especially those led by underestimated founders—stall not because of vision, but because of operational friction and leadership overload. Slate Seven is here to change that.
We believe growing a company shouldn’t mean sacrificing your time, your team, or your well-being. Our mission is to systematize success for entrepreneurs and CEOs—so you scale smarter, faster, and with more ownership over your time and trajectory.
Meet Our Founder
Katie Leonard
Strategic Architect | AI/ML & Systems Leader
Katie Leonard builds scalable companies that work—for founders, teams, and communities. With two decades of cross-sector leadership spanning federal technology, public health, urban planning, and equity-centered economic development, she brings unmatched clarity to complex environments.
Katie is not your typical consultant. As a former executive in data engineering, AI/ML, and corporate operations, she’s led initiatives that restructured entire organizations—from implementing CMMI Level 3 process maturity to launching $15M AI/ML growth strategies for federal clients. She’s built performance dashboards, migrated enterprise data systems, aligned teams to vision, and redefined how small and mid-sized companies scale sustainably.
Earlier in her career, Katie spearheaded public sector equity efforts—helping cities like Alexandria, VA institutionalize race and social equity into public policy, economic development, and urban planning. She also built an incubator to help justice-involved entrepreneurs gain access to capital, operational tools, and mentorship.
Now, through Slate Seven, Katie acts as a strategic architect—designing the playbook, aligning the people, and activating the embedded teams and tech needed to drive execution at scale. Her gift lies in translating bold vision into systems that scale, transforming values into action, and aligning strategy with measurable, lasting growth. Katie brings together sharp operational expertise and an unwavering commitment to social impact—proving that purpose and profit can coexist.
“I didn’t truly understand what it meant to be a business owner until after my first year and a lot of hard, expensive, and heart-felt lessons. Now I help founders develop the mindset, structure, and strategy to lead with clarity. What feels like chaos is often just unstructured potential. I turn that into efficient execution…and profit."
What Clients Say
“Partnering with Slate Seven as our fractional COO has been a game changer. As a growing startup, our operations often felt like controlled chaos, even on good days. Slate Seven stepped in and immediately created clarity and structure, identifying inefficiencies we didn’t even realize were holding us back. They quickly learned the landscape of our company and introduced smart, practical ways to leverage AI and ML in areas we hadn’t considered. What impressed us most wasn’t just their ability to organize, it was how every system they built accelerated our momentum. They didn’t slow us down with process. They made our path to growth faster and sharper.”
— Dawn Myers | Founder, Richualist
“I had the pleasure of working with Slate Seven while apart of John’s Hopkins Social Innovation Lab. Katie helped me to recognize the importance of systems and tools to to support managing my responsibilities as a busy solo-entrepreneur. Our sessions felt like a breath of fresh air and needed dose of accountability that motivated me to be strategic about where I put my time, money, and resources.
She re-centered my focus not just on increasing profitability, but also the freedom to focus on what I do best and delegating the rest! ”
— Joyson Balisamore | Founder & Chief Hydration Officer, Jays Watermelonade
"Katie Leonard is the kind of leader every federal growth firm needs—but few are lucky enough to have. For five years, she was my go-to utility infielder across nearly every corner of STS operations—from culture to data to AI-infused transformation. What set her apart wasn’t just her versatility. It was her entrepreneurial instinct. Katie didn’t just take ownership—she operated like an owner, turning ambiguity into action and complexity into clarity.
She’s now returning to her founder roots with Slate Seven, bringing that same operational magic to other GovCon firms—but with a sharper edge: an “AI/ML-First” mindset that rewires how operations scale, measure, and perform.
If you’re a small or mid-sized GovCon firm serious about getting ahead of the AI curve—and want a partner who can align people, process, and platforms to actually deliver—Katie is your force multiplier.
I endorse her fully, not just as a former teammate, but as a true ops innovator who understands that in this new AI era, execution speed and operational intelligence are the new competitive advantages.
— Adrian Rich | CEO, Simple Technology Solutions
“Katie is a phenomenal business coach and mentor. She leverages her success as a business owner to provide guidance that is relevant, timely, and impactful. Her coaching has helped me take my business to the next level.”
— Alyia Gaskins | Founder & CEO, Cities RX, LLC
Why Slate Seven
We execute — not “strategize” around a whiteboard.
We embed — replace inefficiencies with a high-performance, integrated team.
We connect strategy + tech — our IP tools are not gimmicks—they deliver measured ROI.
We optimize for enterprise value — tying our work to EBITDA, operational efficiency, and investor readiness wherever possible.
We flex to your stage — from compliance to speed to margin, we meet you where you are.
Ready to turn ideas into impact and accelerate the next phase of your business?
Let’s talk.