“I had the privilege of working directly with Kara, who brought me onboard to spearhead the B2B marketing efforts. Her blend of strategic vision and empathy made her a standout leader, fostering both individual growth and team cohesion. Her extensive domain knowledge, which has been honed through years of experience, was invaluable to shape our marketing strategy. Kara's ability to align marketing with sales end goals, coupled with her human-centered approach, truly sets her apart. Her leadership in sales is the best I've encountered, and her commitment to our team's success was consistently inspiring. For anyone seeking a strategic, humble, and inspiring leader, I wholeheartedly recommend Kara. Her professional acumen and genuine care for her team's well-being make her an indispensable asset to any organization!”
About
Contributions
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How can you identify potential successors for key leadership roles?
Ideal long-term planning + real world shorter term / quick pivot planning needs to be part of your succession playbook so orgs can be ready when succession needs to happen "out of schedule." Important - Tell the potential successors! Even if in more general we see you have potential to move into "this level of responsibility" rather than expect position, terms. What surprises me is the number of organizations who "secretly identify" high potentials, fail to discuss with said individuals, then find out, too late, those people's aspirations around career progression don't align with org plans. Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone you've secretly tapped wants that next role. This can be part of hello/stay interviews and focused 1:1s.
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How can you communicate a change in direction to your team effectively?
Humans naturally resist change. This is normal. Our brains are wired to resist change. Even great change. Expect it, prepare for it, and include this understanding as part of the change communication strategy. When change happens it's rarely a straight line, and completely normal setbacks and resistance can be perceived as failure of the new direction / initiative, if not acknowledged from go. By calling out the normalcy of a two steps forward one step back change model, you can manage expectations, create space for natural resistance, and still enforce the plan and keep your team moving forward in the new direction.
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How can you manage cross-functional conflicts without compromising your values?
Step one - Set Ego Aside, consider what is your desired outcome and allow for the idea that there is more than one way to achieve it. I'm a big fan of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and habits 4 & 5 are helpful here. Think Win-Win and Seek first to understand, then be understood. In cross-functional conflict there can be an assumption that parties are far apart. Sales at odds with product & delivery, for example. However, when we create space for the other party to share, rather than leading with our own perspective, we build trust, deepen understanding, and ultimately open the door to gaining the buy-in and consensus needed to move forward collaboratively.
Activity
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For talent and leadership development leaders looking for their next step in their career: Here are 10+ roles to check out: *️⃣ Liberty Mutual:…
For talent and leadership development leaders looking for their next step in their career: Here are 10+ roles to check out: *️⃣ Liberty Mutual:…
Liked by Kara Doak
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I can't stress the importance of personal connections enough...but don't take it from me, take it from Randstad CEO, Sander van 't…
I can't stress the importance of personal connections enough...but don't take it from me, take it from Randstad CEO, Sander van 't…
Liked by Kara Doak
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I know that in today's competitive job market, finding the right talent is crucial 💎 From personalized employee referrals to nurturing alumni…
I know that in today's competitive job market, finding the right talent is crucial 💎 From personalized employee referrals to nurturing alumni…
Liked by Kara Doak
Experience & Education
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Randstad Enterprise
View Kara’s full experience
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Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Board of Directors, Executive Team, Director of Strategic Partnerships, General Chapter Volunteer
ATD Kansas City
- 2 years 1 month
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Advisory Board Member for the Masters of Organizational Development Program
Avila University
- 2 years 1 month
Education
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Program Speaker
International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood
- 1 year 4 months
Education
P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.
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Mentor - Communications
FIRST
- 3 years 3 months
Science and Technology
Mentor Team Driven's customer service and marketing & communications teams. Team Driven is a Championship High School FIRST robotics team.
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Foster Animals, Walk Dogs, Advocate, Fundraise
Midwest Animal Resq
- Present 12 years 6 months
Animal Welfare
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Board Chair/ President for 1 year, and served multiple Board Positions duration of membership
Mothers & More, Lee's Summit
- 4 years 1 month
Social Services
Publications
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Developing a Microlearning Strategy in an Attention Economy
TD Magazine
See publicationEmployees have no shortage of information at their fingertips. What they do have is a shortage of attention and time. The attention economy we live in is not just about competing priorities or having enough hours in the day; it's also a byproduct of being bombarded with too much information...
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The Power of Audio Based Learning As Part of the Modern ToolKit
Blinkist Business Blog
See publicationEmployees are more than a little screen exhausted. It’s common for a worker to move from laptop to smartphone and back again for more than six hours daily. How, then, do you get your team members excited about training content? The answer is clear: You offer them eyes-free solutions in the form of audio-based learning and development (L&D) resources.
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Employee Education: How to Avoid the "Forgetting Curve"
TalentCulture.com
See publicationYou’ve spent the day at a leadership conference learning all sorts of great things: how to coach your team, how to build engagement, how to run effective meetings, how to encourage career development, and more. You go back to work the next day with good intentions—but quickly lapse into your old habits...
Honors & Awards
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Top Sales Growth, Western Region
getAbstract
Top YOY Sales growth and highest client retention/renewal rate of Western U.S. & LATAM Teams. Based on 2016 Sales Performance
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Winner's Circle - Wonder Woman Award
getAbstract EXCO
Based on 2015 performance: Top sales award based on exceptional client relationships, top YOY sales growth, early quota attainment, percent over quota attainment.
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Winner's Circle - Largest New Client Contract (Global Sales)
getAbstract
Based on 2014 Sales Performance
Recommendations received
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LinkedIn User
14 people have recommended Kara
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Career coaching is so much more than just a perk, it's a strategic investment 💎 I've seen time and time again how structured coaching programs can…
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Hey KC area Peeps, check out what my fabulous colleague Bethany Waddleton is up to on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City! If you see her…
Hey KC area Peeps, check out what my fabulous colleague Bethany Waddleton is up to on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City! If you see her…
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While we're still in the group stages, we've already seen players and managers face intense pressure at the Euros ⚽ Of course, talent in any field…
While we're still in the group stages, we've already seen players and managers face intense pressure at the Euros ⚽ Of course, talent in any field…
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