From Friendship to Firm: The Story Behind Legato Strategic

Built on Friendship, Fueled by a Better Way to Consult

Legato Strategic didn't begin with a business plan. It began with a friendship, a shared passion for higher education, and a belief that consulting could be done differently. What started as conversations between two university colleagues has grown into a firm helping institutions connect technology with the realities of campus life.

A Shared Vision, Years in the Making

The story goes back to 2009, when Kris Kelpe and Katrina Holland worked in Career Services at different universities, each leading technology implementations. Through conferences, presentations, and shared resources, they discovered a common strength: making complicated technology understandable and useful to the people who relied on it.

Over the years, they occasionally joked about starting a consulting company together. Beneath that idea was a serious conviction that institutions deserved partners who understood how campuses actually work, not just how technology works.

In 2024, that long held idea became Legato. Kris launched the practice in June with two established client relationships, and Katrina joined in July to help build the company. By September, Legato had its name, identity, mission, and first industry conference.

From an Idea to a Growing Firm

The momentum continued. In 2025, Legato welcomed another client, expanded its institutional engagements, hosted its first Learn One New Thing webinar, and presented at a national conference. The team also refined its mission around connecting cloud systems with campus operations.

By 2026, Legato had won its first competitive request for proposal, hosted its first conference booth, and delivered a hands on workshop at a national higher education conference. Its client history had grown to 15 organizations.

The growth matters, but the purpose behind it matters more. Each new engagement creates another opportunity to help an institution navigate complexity and build a stronger foundation for the future.

Why We're Called Legato

In music, legato describes notes played smoothly and connected to one another. That idea captures how we approach higher education modernization. Technology cannot reach its full potential when systems, data, processes, and people operate in isolation.

Connecting strategy with execution and technical decisions with campus operations helps institutions move beyond simply implementing a system. It helps them create an experience that works for the people who use it every day.

A Different Kind of Consulting

As a women-owned business, Legato was built on the belief that exceptional consulting and a fulfilling personal life should not be mutually exclusive. The company was founded on the idea that experienced professionals should be able to contribute meaningful work while maintaining the flexibility to care for their families and personal commitments.

That philosophy continues to shape how Legato builds its team and serves its partners. By bringing together talented professionals with varied experiences and flexible working arrangements, Legato can match the right expertise to each institution’s needs.

Legato’s goal remains the same as it was at the beginning: to leave every institution stronger than it was before, with greater clarity, confidence, and the ability to sustain its own success.

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