Karen R. Baker

Karen R. Baker has a diverse work experience spanning several industries and roles. Karen R. is currently the Founder and President of Boathouse, where they lead a 70-person agency focused on providing narrative transformation and strategy for brands. Karen co-founded Boathouse in 2001 with a vision of combining individual expertise with teamwork.

In addition to their role at Boathouse, Karen recently joined Chief, a private network aimed at empowering women executives and helping them advance in their careers.

Karen R. is also a Strategic Advisor at AdvisoryCloud, where they have provided their expertise since November 2019 until November 2022.

Karen has been involved with PCMA since October 2017, where they serve as a Subject Matter Expert and has designed and facilitated a course on Business Planning and Monetization for the Digital Event Strategist Certification.

Karen R. has also produced and co-hosted the Behind The Mind Radio Show since November 2012, exploring the intersection of design thinking and business.

Before that, Karen worked as a Co-Producer and Contributor at BBC from April 2021 to November 2021.

From December 2017 to October 2021, they served as the Co-Executive Director of Think Local First DC.

Karen's career also includes being the CEO of 7Concepts Inc since January 2003 until October 2021. During that time, they worked on various projects, including Brand Marketing and a collaboration with Under Armour.

From March 2005 to December 2020, Karen served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at The George Washington University School of Business, teaching Marketing Quarterly and advising students.

Karen R. was also a Senior Project Consultant at Isom Global Strategies from July 2014 to October 2020. In this role, Karen achieved notable results, including increasing attendance for the Fort Dupont Parks Summer Concert Series and driving social media growth for the Industrial Bank and the Minority Business Development Agency.

Karen R. Baker has an extensive education history spanning several years. Karen R. completed their Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Howard University from 1988 to 1992. Following this, they pursued a Master's in Arts in Design Management at the Savannah College of Art and Design from 2011 to 2013.

In 1995-1997, Karen attended The George Washington University School of Business, where they obtained their Master's in Tourism Administration with a specialization in Event Management. Continuing their academic journey, they then pursued a Master of Fine Arts with a focus in Social Practice and Public Policy at The George Washington University from 2020 to 2021.

Karen recently completed a Graduate Certification in Higher Education Leadership and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2021-2022. Currently, they are pursuing a Doctor of Design degree in Design Research at North Carolina State University, beginning in 2022.

Additionally, Karen has obtained several certifications throughout their career. Karen R. is a Founding Member of Women in Advertising for Gender Equity, certified by Grapevine in 2023. Karen R. has also completed the Storytelling for Influence course from IDEO U in the same year. In 2014, Karen received the ACL certification from Adobe. Furthermore, they acquired a Creativity, Innovation, and Change certification from Coursera in 2013 and became an Adobe Education Trainer in the same year. Most recently, Karen has pursued a certification in Narrative Economics from Yale University in 2023. Karen R. is also a candidate for Creativity Coaching through the Creativity Coaching Association.

In summary, Karen R. Baker has a diverse educational background, consistening of degrees and certifications in various fields, including Design, Public Policy, Event Management, and Higher Education Leadership.