Book IWD Speaker: Karen Wonders

Engineer & Executive Coach empowering technical women to transition from effective contributors to transformational leaders through emotional intelligence & authenticity

Karen Wonders is a Certified Executive Coach, seasoned tech leader, and the Founder and President of LALUZ Consulting. Her company, 'La Luz,' which means 'The Light,' is built on her core mission to help the unique light within every leader shine brighter.

As an engineer with an Executive MBA and over two decades of experience, Karen specializes in a pivotal transition. She helps technical professionals evolve from being an effective contributor (someone who gets things done) to a transformational leader who has influence and impact, regardless of their title.

Her entire career has been focused on meaningful connections and stakeholder collaboration. This unique combination of practical experience and coaching expertise allows her to empower engineers at all levels with practical skills, like emotional intelligence, to foster innovative work and lead with confidence. This commitment extends to her volunteer work where she actively mentors young engineers.

The topics I can cover:

1. Emotional Intelligence for Technical Leaders: We explore how emotional intelligence acts as a critical tool for leadership success in technical environments. Attendees learn practical strategies to improve communication, reduce team friction, and lead with empathy to drive project success.

2. Finding Your Leadership Spark: Authentic leadership comes from knowing what fuels you. In this session, we identify what makes you unique by exploring your core values. We then cover practical strategies to do more of what energizes you and manage what drains you, ensuring you can lead with confidence and sustainability.

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