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

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Douglas Katz, a West Point graduate, disabled Army veteran, and adaptive product innovator on a mission to change lives in the kitchen. With an extensive career spanning the military, telecom, and lending, Doug has brought his problem-solving skills to a new frontier—adaptive technology. Inspired by his personal experiences as a disabled veteran and as a caretaker for an octogenarian, Doug set out to create the NULU knife, an adaptive kitchen tool designed to empower people of all abilities to cook safely and confidently. Doug leads a talented team of over-50 professionals, most of whom are veterans, as they work to make independence in the kitchen accessible to everyone, from seniors and veterans to anyone facing physical limitations. Join us as Doug shares his journey, the story behind NULU, and his passion for designing tools that support independence and dignity at every stage of life.