Kathy Misunas currently serves as an advisor and Board Director to various private businesses, and acts as principal of Essential Ideas, a consultancy specializing in the global travel and tourism, technology and on-line retail fields. She has led businesses in executive roles, most notably as CEO of Sabre, CIO of American Airlines, and CEO of Reed Travel Group, the prior global publishing enterprise. Her current interests include progressing sustainability efforts in the travel and tourism industry and is honored to serve as a Director with Tourism Cares, the global non-profit dedicated to advancing the travel industry’s positive social, environmental, and economic impact to help people and places thrive.
Previously she served as a Board Director at Tech Data Corporation (currently TDSynnex), Canadian Tire Corporation, Travelocity, ezRez Software (currently Switchfly) and others.
Complementing her business initiatives, Ms. Misunas participates with the GRB (Gartner Research Board) Directors Community related to technology and business issues, and previously with various councils such as the Technology Advisory of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management at the Pennsylvania State University. Additionally she has functioned as guest lecturer at academic institutions such as MIT, Harvard, Cornell, and New York University and is a speaker at travel and technology industry events.
Misunas volunteers her time and supports various charities. For pleasure she enjoys trekking, marathon running, traveling, gardening and the arts.
Misunas grew up in the Lehigh Valley, PA. While attending Moravian College, she studied French at the Alliance Francaise in Paris, France. Her academic background includes advanced business curricula at American University, and executive courses at the University of Virginia Darden School and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She was an active member of the National Association of Corporate Directors as Leadership Fellow, served on the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and is a lifetime CTC member (currently The Travel Institute).
