Kate Jerome

Senior Publishing Executive and Author
Cofounder, Little Bridges

Kate Jerome’s extraordinary career seamlessly blends corporate leadership with creative prowess. An accomplished publishing executive, award-winning children’s book author, and intergenerational product expert, Kate’s influence on younger generations spans decades, leaving an indelible mark on countless young minds.

Kate began her career as a high school biology teacher but quickly discovered the world of educational publishing. Starting as an entry-level editor at ScottForesman publishing in Chicago, her innovative product vision and strong leadership skills propelled her through every editorial chair and, within 13 short years, she was named President of the company–simultaneously serving as a Senior VP on HarperCollins Executive Board in New York.

As a staunch advocate of STEM, Kate eventually left the corporate environment to collaborate with National Geographic in developing an award-winning educational science series for kids. With a portfolio that now boasts over 200 fiction and nonfiction books, her contributions to children’s literature are vast and varied. One of her notable works includes Who Was Amelia Earhart?, a part of the esteemed New York Times best-selling Who Was series. Her most recent series on ocean conservation for middle school students, OceanX Adventures, is being done in collaboration with the Dalio Foundation’s nonprofit internationally renowned OceanX initiative.

In 2015 Kate was offered an inaugural Fellowship in Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute. This experience re-energized her mission to translate cutting-edge intergenerational research into tangible products, leading to the birth of Little Bridges. As Cofounder and lead innovator, Kate creates engaging family activities and products to inspire meaningful dialogues and cherished moments between children and their favorite adults.

Kate’s commitment to continuing education and mentorship is demonstrated by her roles in many esteemed organizations. She is an active Director Emerita for the South Carolina Aquarium and serves as a National Advisor to Reading Partners, a program dedicated to helping children master essential reading skills. She has been a mentor for Stanford’s Knight-Hennessy program and is currently an Ambassador for the Stanford Center on Longevity’s New Map of Life program. She is also a Social Innovation Coach for the international Dalai Lama Fellows, dedicated to fostering global change-makers.