Dr. Karen Katchen brings over 35 years of experience as a registered psychologist and executive coach. She works with senior executives and startup teams to build awareness around and strengthen their Emotional Intelligence and build skillsets for performance in this fast paced, high pressure scale up economy.

Karen holds a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. As a Clinical and Consulting Psychologist as well as an Executive Coach, she has maintained an independent practice since 1974. In Calgary, she counselled University Students, taught Educational Psychology and was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Throughout her clinical career, she has trained police, teachers, child welfare workers, physicians, lawyers and judges. As an Executive Coach, she has advised executives, founders, and directors of some of Canada's fastest growing companies.

Katchen Consulting, where Karen remains principle, offers a clinical as well as an executive coaching service. In her work, she draws upon a variety of assessment strategies including the wonderful EQi-2.0 for Emotional Intelligence, and an eclectic toolkit for intervention including approaches such as EMDR for trauma, Hypnosis, CBT and Behavior Therapies. Karen's background as a Psychologist brings a depth of perspective, and diversity of skills and techniques to the consultation and coaching process.

Karen is passionate about mental health promotion through research, policy, education and service delivery. She developed and chaired one of the first studies in Canada to explore community needs and resources for childhood sexual abuse. She worked with the community of Peel to draft their Child Welfare investigation and intervention Protocol for Child Sexual Abuse and consulted with the Toronto Special Committee on Child Sexual Abuse. Karen developed and chaired the Public Education portfolio for the Board of the Ontario Psychological Association and as the American Psychological Association’s representative to Ontario, launched the first Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award. She created and chaired Mental Health Tune Up, large joint public education initiatives of the Ontario Psychological Association and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Karen's Consulting and Executive Coaching experience includes working with top tier Managers across various industries as well as Founders who have sought her guidance and counsel. She has been an active participant both in the Technology sector’s #Move the Dial initiative, Elevate Toronto and in working directly with Female CEO’s, Founders, Board Members, Investors and Employees.She has participated on a variety of Boards, some of which include The Psychology Foundation of Canada, Ontario Psychological Foundation, The Koffler Centre of the Arts, and Pine River Institute.

Karen is proud that her three children, Michael Katchen (founder of Canada's leading Fintech Company, Wealthsimple), Amy Baryshnik (Harvard MBA grad and partner at Alignvest), and Jodi Kovitz (CEO of AceTech Ontario and founder of #MoveTheDial) - model her principles in their daily lives as leaders.