Alana Karen

About Alana Karen

Award-winning tech leader, author, and keynote speaker who spent 23 years inside Google, helping a 300-person start-up evolve into a company that shapes how billions search, connect, and learn. During those two decades, I built and led global teams behind everything from Search infrastructure and ads policy automation to Google Fiber’s customer experience and the Google Grants nonprofit platform. Today, the lessons learned from scaling operations, navigating ambiguity, and growing talent fuel the stories and frameworks I share with leaders at Big Tech and high-growth start-ups worldwide.My speaking and executive-coaching practice weaves inclusive-leadership principles into every engagement, showing organizations how to build diverse, high-performing teams and sustainable careers in an AI-shaped future.That advocacy lives on the page as well. ‘Adventures of Women in Tech’, praised for its candid, research-backed storytelling, has earned multiple business-book awards and inspired workshops and university courses around the globe. A companion workbook debuted in 2022, and a fully updated second edition arrives in 2025, exploring post-pandemic culture shifts, the AI era, and practical playbooks for thriving amid constant change.

Experience

1. the Adventures of Women in Tech Navigating the Hard Tech Era (November 2025)

   Wise Ink Media

   Nov 2024 — Present

   After 20+ years of senior leadership experience at Google, I’ve devoted my full-time focus to writing and launching The Adventures of Women in Tech: Navigating the Hard Tech Era. In this new edition I dive straight into the changed world of tech employment and culture since 2020, exposing what\'s caused tech companies to feel so traditional, why many big-ticket programs like DEI and WFH flopped, and discuss our career options in this rapidly changing AI-driven world. Committed advocate for community, connection, and inclusive leadership to achieve business goals. I bring solid knowledge of relevant principles and coach leaders on how to build diverse, high-performing teams. I understand systemic bias, cultural competency, and inclusion strategies, and ensure my coaching helps leaders uplift every team member and consider a wide range of perspectives. As a speaker, I\'m known for being engaging and articulate, skilled at blending logic and emotion to inspire leaders, communicating with clarity, passion, and storytelling. Strong stage presence, concise messaging, and the ability to leave audiences both informed and energized. I bring extensive speaking experience across conferences, podcasts, and leadership events, including 10 keynotes, 35 fireside chats or guest talks, 14 panels, 10 workshops, and 20 podcast appearances, including So Money with Farnoosh Torabi and Fifth Dimensional Leadership. My engagements include high-profile events such as the WomenTech Global Awards and Women Impact Tech.

Education

• University of Virginia

  BA, History

  1995 — 1999