Kate Barney

Kate Barney serves as the Chief People Officer at Smartly since January 2025, previously holding the position of Global Head of HR, Corporate Services at ByteDance from January 2023 to January 2025. Prior to that, Kate led HR functions for TikTok, focusing on North America and global operations, and was deeply involved in fostering a collaborative HR culture. With a rich background that includes founding leSolstice and SuitsU, and key roles at Pollen, Citymapper, Bloomberg LP, People.Co, and Hertshten Group, Kate has consistently driven innovative HR strategies and organizational growth. Educational credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies from Harvard University and a Fellowship in Directing from Beijing Film Academy.