Diversity reboot

Karen leads diversity, equity & inclusion and Elastic Cares, Elastic’s philanthropic goodness program.

Karen is a former civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, who was also in-house employment counsel in the private sector before leaning into all things people and culture related. Her more than 20 years of leadership experience encompasses a cross-section of companies and industries ranging from small tech startups to global aerospace enterprises, to US federal government agencies, and outsourced strategic human resources consulting. She has either led the people function, or served as a member of senior leadership with responsibility for key functions like DEI recruiting, EEO & Affirmative Action, and ethics & compliance.

Karen served on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital for more than 10 years, co-chaired the Women’s Advisory Board and currently sits on the Nominating Committee.

She is co-administrator and Team Lead for Arlington Neighbors Welcoming Afghans, the volunteer grassroots community effort launched in 2021 to aid resettlement efforts of Afghan refugees in the Washington, DC metro area.

She also serves as the volunteer driver coordinator for the Arlington (Va) chapter of Food For Neighbors, a non-profit organization that sources and delivers more than 2000 pounds (907 kg) of individual meals and snack items 5 times per school year to local middle and high school food pantries to distribute during times when students might otherwise go hungry.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in government from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School.