Karen has been a senior leader in Government and Tech Start-ups across the US and Asia. She has led teams in 40,000-member organizations and navigated a digital health start-up’s growth stage from 50 to 200 (Seed to Series B). Her domain expertise is in strategy, coaching and talent development. She is a mom of two and is bi-cultural, having spent about half her adult life in Singapore, and half in the US.

In her most recent stint in the Bay Area, she supported her partner through his 5-year PhD program, managing global teams and odd hours (London, Singapore, New York, San Francisco). She and her partner have navigated multiple challenges as a dual career couple with limited family support in the US. Karen is a certified executive coach, alumni of Princeton University and Oxford University. She holds a certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care.

Why I am an ally: When I was going through challenging workplace situations, there were times when just the right person would show up to help me navigate them with practicality and empathy. There were also times when I felt alone and stuck for extended periods – sometimes, people with the best intentions are just not equipped. I am ally because I want the former scenario to be more common than the latter for more women.