Karen Budell

Karen Budell is a seasoned cross-functional business leader and strategic marketer with over two decades of experience in brand building and storytelling through integrated campaigns.

Her professional journey has seen her in leadership positions at tech, B2B enterprise software companies, publishing, and the newspaper industry, exposing her to diverse working environments and leading through change and uncertainty.

Karen excels in B2C and B2B marketing across digital, mobile, and social channels, consumer research analysis, integrated campaign development, strategic partnerships, and more.

She has collaborated with Fortune 500 retail brands, food and restaurant industry clients, innovation consultancies, CPG brands, telecom, financial services, and business associations.

Karen is highly skilled in brand messaging, event strategy, digital ad sales, creative campaign development, and website and content strategy.

She is an alumna of Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago, having earned her MBA in Marketing, and also holds a B.A. in Comparative Arts & Literature, Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Moreover, Karen holds a Postgraduate Diploma with Merit in Journalism from the London School of Journalism.

She has been affiliated with various organizations like Pavilion, Fast Company Executive Board, Totango, Chief, and the Dean's Board of Advisors at Loyola University Chicago.

Karen's impressive career includes roles such as Chief Marketing Officer at Totango, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Momentive.ai, and leadership positions at Google, Workday Adaptive Planning, Saba, and Imagination.

Her rich professional background also encompasses experiences at the Chicago Tribune Media Group and Park Entertainment Ltd., displaying her adaptability across different industries.

Karen is known for her inclusive management style, strong leadership, and communication skills, with a focus on motivating teams to drive performance, achieve marketing objectives, and deliver business results.

She is also a seasoned presenter, lecturer, speaker, and panel moderator, displaying comfort and enthusiasm in delivering presentations to various audiences, including senior executives, large groups, and university students.

Passionate about purpose-driven companies, collaborative environments, empathetic leadership, and fast-paced settings, Karen Budell finds inspiration in her hometown of Chicago and current base in the San Francisco Bay Area.