Karen has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years, specializing in organizational development. She dedicated her career to two leading global nonprofits—IESC (IESC.org) and The Ocean Foundation (TOF) (oceanfdn.org)—and now uses her experience to support other organizations and mentor young professionals. Her journey began in 1986 as a Zoology student in the SFS Wildlife Conservation program in Kenya. That experience, and the connections she made there, led her to IESC in 1998.

At IESC, a private sector development organization, Karen held program and management roles in the U.S. and abroad. She managed numerous field programs, including six years in Egypt helping small and medium enterprises build international partnerships. As part of the senior management team, she contributed to strategy, operations, and staff development and oversaw the relocation of IESC’s headquarters from Connecticut to Washington, DC. Karen was the Senior Director of Business Development, leading federal and private grant efforts, launching a corporate partnership program, and overseeing volunteer, consultant, project, proposal, budget and grants management.  Years later, she returned as a volunteer to help launch IESC’s first alumni network!

In 2009, Karen was drawn back toward her love of the environment when she joined The Ocean Foundation, the only community foundation for the ocean, where she served as Vice President of Operations until 2018. There, she built systems for financial management and budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and learning, donor stewardship, project and grants management, partnership and client development, and marketing and communications. She strengthened and diversified the Board of Directors, supported the development of advisory boards, and launched a fully integrated online Human Resources and Performance Management system. Karen also managed TOF’s internship program—where, coincidentally, one of her interns was the son of SFS’s Founding President! From 2018 to 2020, she continued with TOF as a consultant, developing toolkits for performance management, knowledge management, and strategic planning, among others.

Throughout her career, Karen’s work has centered on people. She listens closely, studies how organizations operate, and helps build systems that are both effective and sustainable. She has secured funding from governments, foundations, and corporations, and managed international programs in agribusiness, health, tourism, handicrafts, and environmental conservation. She has designed management systems for all aspects of nonprofit organizational management and international program operations. Karen has led teams in the U.S. and abroad through needs assessments, strategic planning, and organizational restructuring—but what she values most is helping people create healthy, adaptable workplaces that support long-term success.

Favorite SFS Memory: SFS changed my life. That’s probably the most important memory. But a few images and feelings that come to mind still are seeing giraffe wild for the first time in the distance foraging on acacia; noticing Masai walking toward or away from somewhere with nothing in sight for miles; night drives around the ranch; being so dirty from driving around the Masai Mara that you don’t recognize your face when you finally get to a mirror and of course the thrill of having a diet coke WITH ICE at the Jacaranda after coming back from safari! The reason all this changed my life was the reverse culture shock I felt when I returned. Kenya made me see what mattered and realize all those things we prioritize in the US that do not. It led me to a life in international development including marrying an Egyptian and living both my personal and professional life with an international focus. SFS did that.