Karen’s background in branding, marketing, advertising/PR and non-profit management has allowed her to hone her business and leadership skills, particularly those related to positioning and creating the perfect “elevator speech.” Karen received her Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 1991 and spent the three years following in investment banking. In 1996, she received her Master in Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  While at UNC, Karen provided peer counseling resume review to MBA students, and worked with the graduate school admissions office as a student consultant and representative at college fairs.

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Following business school, Karen spent five years in marketing and advertising, first in brand management at Procter & Gamble (where she led the recruiting effort for Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals), and then at an advertising agency. Karen subsequently served as Marketing Director for a fine diamond jewelry manufacturer, was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of the COPE Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit based on Long Island, and most recently, owned and ran a Mathnasium Learning Center.  Karen conducted alumni interviews for the undergraduate admissions office of Duke University for eight years and is the author of two books.

Kathy’s background in psychology and academia has allowed her to interact with numerous demographics, which have included students, parents, educators and employers. Kathy received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from The University of Vermont in 1993.  She continued her education at Teachers College, Columbia University, receiving a double Masters in Counseling Psychology in 1996.

 

Kathy began her professional career as a crisis counselor in the Queens Family Court system. Subsequently, she was a high school guidance counselor for the K-12 program at Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn where she assisted students with their college applications. Her career continued at Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn and Hofstra University where she worked in the departments of academic advisement and career counseling. Her responsibilities included reviewing resumes, interview skills, proper dress code and work etiquette, and providing career counseling to students with majors in psychology, social work, sociology, foreign language and other liberal arts departments. She also facilitated resume writing and interview workshops.