Karen Woodhead

Karen Woodhead has a diverse range of work experience spanning over three decades. Karen currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Marketing for Smoothwall, where they lead the marketing efforts for the Qoria group of companies. This includes overseeing global demand generation, brand strategy, customer acquisition, and retention. Prior to this role, Karen worked as the Global Marketing Director for Smoothwall, driving brand growth, demand generation, and market development in both the UK and US.

Before joining Smoothwall, Karen held the position of Director of Marketing at Huthwaite International, where they contributed to the company's brand strategy, demand generation, and sales/marketing alignment. Karen also played a key role in optimizing the sales funnel, acquiring new logos, and mentoring their team.

Karen has a strong background in agency work, having founded and served as the Brand Director of 12 Miles North Limited, a multi-award-winning brand and digital agency. Karen later sold the agency and returned to their roots in marketing. Prior to that, they founded White Space Communications Limited and grew it from a micro startup to a successful SME. In this role, they provided strategic support to clients across various sectors and developed expertise in communication strategy, digital planning, and ROI analysis.

Earlier in their career, Karen worked as a Marketing Manager for ThinkDigital Limited, where they led the brand and marketing efforts and spearheaded a corporate rebranding initiative. Karen also served as a Marketing Manager for Help the Aged, working in their commercial arm to launch profitable products and services for the charity.

Karen's career began in education, teaching English as a foreign language at Universidad Fundema in Colombia and Centro de Profesores in Madrid. During their time in Colombia, they volunteered at a safe house for street children.

Overall, Karen Woodhead has accumulated extensive experience in marketing leadership roles, specializing in brand strategy, demand generation, sales/marketing alignment, and digital marketing. Karen has worked across various sectors and has a track record of driving growth and delivering measurable results.

Karen Woodhead has a diverse educational background. In 1987, they began their undergraduate studies at Leeds Trinity and All Saints, where they pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Media. Karen successfully completed their studies in 1991, attaining a 2:1 grade.

Following their bachelor's degree, Karen furthered their education at the University of Leeds from 1994 to 1996. During this period, they pursued a CIM Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic Marketing.

In 2008, Karen decided to expand their knowledge and ventured into the field of Creative Writing. Karen enrolled at The University of Sheffield and completed their postgraduate studies in Creative Writing in 2010.

Overall, Karen Woodhead's education journey showcases their interest in various fields, including Marketing, Spanish, Media, and Creative Writing.