Douglas Katz on Evolving the Kitchen Knife

What if one simple design could restore confidence, independence, and dignity in everyday life? In this powerful episode of the Find Your Leadership Confidence Podcast, host Vicki Noethling welcomes Douglas Katz—a West Point graduate, disabled Army veteran, and adaptive product innovator who is revolutionizing how people experience independence in the kitchen. Inspired by his own lived experience as a disabled veteran and as a caretaker for an aging loved one, Doug set out to solve a deeply personal problem: how to make cooking safer and more accessible for people with upper extremity impairments. The result was NULU, a thoughtfully designed adaptive kitchen knife that reimagines traditional tools through the lens of inclusion, empowerment, and human-centered design. With a career spanning military service, telecom, and lending, Doug brings a unique blend of discipline, problem-solving, and empathy to the world of adaptive technology. Today, he leads a team of more than 50 professionals—most of whom are veterans—united by a shared mission to make independence accessible for seniors, veterans, and individuals facing physical limitations. In this conversation, Doug shares the story behind NULU, the lessons learned along the way, and why adaptive tools aren’t about limitation—but liberation. 🎧 If you care about inclusive leadership, thoughtful design, and creating solutions that truly serve people—this episode is a must-listen. https://youtu.be/douglas-katz The link is for Douglas’ Linktr.ee which includes information on his business as well as other supporting information on him and his personal brand. https://linktr.ee/dougkatz Subscribe to Our Podcast Connect With Our Guest Website: https://linktr.ee/dougkatz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doug.katz.9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.m.katz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaskatz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nuluing Threads: https://www.threads.net/@d.m.katz The post Douglas Katz on Evolving the Kitchen Knife first appeared on The Find Your Leadership Confidence Podcast with Victoria Noethling.