FOCUS St. Louis is pleased to announce Kathy Osborn as the recipient of the 2024 FOCUS Leadership Award. Osborn recently announced her retirement as President & CEO of the Regional Business Council (RBC), a role she’s served in for the past 25 years. She is a 1995 graduate of the FOCUS Leadership St. Louis program.
This prestigious award, chosen by the FOCUS Board of Directors, is given annually to individuals who demonstrate committed leadership, generate a meaningful impact in the community, and encourage strong community engagement in others.
“Kathy’s lifetime of contributions to our region are exemplary and reflect on both her outstanding character and commitment,” says Jason Carter, board chair for FOCUS St. Louis. “We’re excited for this opportunity to shine a light on her amazing career and thank her for her invaluable leadership in our community.”
Osborn, who founded the RBC in 1999, has spearheaded the growth of the organization from just a handful of members to a multifaceted consortium that today unites and civically engages more than 100 executive partner members representing the region’s largest employers. Its members employ more than 200,000 people and generate more than $65 billion annual revenue.
Since its inception, the RBC has worked diligently to improve the quality of education for all children, founded unique talent and workforce initiatives and has fundamentally changed how the region views, attracts and retains talent. In addition, the organization has developed and funded a broad range of programs to reduce violent crime through supporting and funding innovative enforcement, intervention and prevention programming.
Under Osborn’s leadership, the RBC achieved numerous milestones, among them uniting dozens of RBC companies, nonprofits and public sector organizations to improve neighborhoods by demolishing dangerous vacant buildings as part the Clean, Up, Build Up neighborhood revitalization initiative; raising $235.3 million since 2001 for the annual United Way campaign; and deploying a $1.4 million grant from the Community Impact Network to support the expansion of the Legacy Center’s behavioral health services, tutoring and workforce training programs throughout the Normandy Schools Collaborative. The RBC provides unlimited career networking and professional development opportunity for more than 4,000 members of the organization’s Young Professionals Network and Leadership 100, as well as pairs Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses with RBC members to accelerate their progression and growth as part of the Executive Leadership Initiative.
Throughout her career, Osborn has extended her leadership and time to many organizations, including Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, United Way of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis Symphony, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Forest Park Forever, the St. Louis Police Foundation, the St. Louis Airport Commission, and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
Osborn, who has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, was recognized as only the third woman ever to earn the Citizen of the Year award (2018), the Urban League’s Chairman’s Award, the St. Louis American Foundation’s Champion for Education, St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women, YWCA’s Women of Achievement, and UMSL Distinguished Alumni Award, among many others.
Each year, FOCUS applauds the efforts of the individuals, organizations and/or initiatives making a positive difference in the St. Louis region with our What's Right With the Region Awards.
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