From council estate to chair: Curiosity, courage and care
Welcome to Around the Corner – the interview where we explore the pivotal experiences that shape the leaders who see what’s coming next.
Each episode, we sit down with an influential non-executive director to uncover the three defining ‘corners’ of their career – the past, the present and the future. From the experiences that shaped them to the challenges they’re helping businesses navigate today, and their predictions for what’s next, we dive deep into the turning points that make great leaders.
Some people carve a career with a five-year plan. For others, like Karen, success unfolds through curiosity and a love of learning. From growing up on a council estate to becoming a chair and NED for high-growth tech businesses, Karen’s story is anything but conventional — and all the more powerful for it.
In this conversation with Jan Oosthuizen and Lisa Ward, she reflects on pivotal career moments, the emotional complexity of chairing scale-up businesses, and why her favorite leadership style is “meerkat mode.”
Corner 1: The past – learning by doing (and moving on)
“Let’s start with the background,” Karen begins. “Because that probably does feed into this.”
She speaks with typical candor — and a touch of humor — about her early years:
“I graduated almost 33 years ago, which is terrifying. And next month, I’ll have been with my husband for 34 years, which is even more frightening!”
But her first steps weren’t driven by strategy or ambition:
“I grew up on a council estate. My mum told me to work in the post office. She never understood what I did. That’s always stayed with me — it keeps me grounded.”
What propelled her instead was curiosity:
“Honestly, I just loved learning. Still do. That’s the thread that ties everything together.”
She describes herself, affectionately, as “one of the nerds — four eyes, head in a book.” Her maternal grandmother had 23 grandchildren; only Karen and her sister went to university.
“And I only went because she did — it was competitive!”
On a school French exchange, she remembers being in a shop, asking — in very basic French — how much a pot cost, and being amazed she was understood:
“That was an epiphany: I didn’t really have to have perfect grammar — just the need to communicate. Which helped a few years later when I ended up marrying a French man!”
Symbolic object: The French Pot – discovery through communication and confidence!
Corner 2: The present – knowing the runway
Karen reflects on her career in thirds: a third in large corporates, a third as an executive director, and a third as a non-exec — with plenty of overlap along the way. She describes herself as embracing “meerkat mode”:
“Going into something, fixing a problem, and then moving on to the next.”
A defining moment came during the MCI WorldCom crash:
“I remember calling my husband and saying, ‘I might not get paid this month.’ At the time he was a full time Dad, and my salary was the only income. That’s a wake-up call you never forget.”
It taught her the value of financial transparency:
“One of the key lessons I took from that experience was knowing the cash runway in any business I’m involved with — and writing it down in the board pack. It’s not always popular — but it means no one’s in the dark.”
Symbolic object: The Cash Runway – a reminder that clarity creates resilience.
Corner 3: The future – leadership is relational, not one-size-fits-all
In her non-exec roles, Karen brings emotional intelligence and nuance. She understands that CEOs differ widely in personality, strengths, and support needs. Her approach is bespoke: she takes time to understand each CEO — and, just as importantly, the team around them.
“I don’t need a CEO to walk into a room and own it. I need them to be on a curve — learning, growing, adapting. That’s the path that leads somewhere meaningful.”
Symbolic object: The Curve of Growth – a reminder that leadership isn’t about arrival, but evolution.
Blind Corners: Quick-fire insights
Favorite food?
“My mum’s steak and kidney pie.”
Books?
“Jane Austen and Terry Pratchett. When I’m stressed, I want comfort and humour. No thinking required.”
Music?
“I have eclectic tastes — everything from James Blunt to trance music!”
Final thoughts: The power of presence
In a world obsessed with bold predictions and tidy timelines, Karen offers something quieter — but more powerful: presence, pragmatism, and progress through people.
She doesn’t need to be the loudest in the room or the one with the five-year plan. She’s the one in the corner — listening closely, asking the right questions, and spotting potential in the team – often before they realize it themselves.