Kristen Ziman

Kristen Ziman is the former Police Chief of the Aurora IL Police Department (Ret.). Over her 30-year tenure in law enforcement, Ziman broke significant barriers, becoming the first woman Lieutenant in 2008, the first woman Commander in 2010, and the first woman Chief in January 2016. She led her department through a devastating mass shooting in Aurora, IL, where five people were killed and five officers were injured.

Since retiring from the department, Ziman has transitioned into roles as a professional speaker, author, and organizational consultant. She focuses on leadership, positive psychology, mass shooting prevention, and women’s empowerment. She delivers keynotes such as "Empowered Leaders Empower Others," "Empowering Women Leaders: Tame the Imposter & Lead with Your Unique Gifts," and "Evolving Your Organizational Culture." Additionally, she leads presentations like "Optimize with Optimism," discussing the influence of optimism on performance, resilience, and well-being.

Ziman is also the author of "Reimagining Blue: Thoughts on Life, Leadership, and a New Way Forward in Policing," a memoir reflecting on her experiences in law enforcement from the perspective of a pioneering female police chief. Her current commitments include serving on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Mass Violence Advisory Board and the Department of Justice (DOJ) team reviewing the Uvalde massacre. Through these roles and her consultancy, she offers crucial insights into crisis management and the lessons learned from handling mass casualty incidents.