Karen Gould
Researching Antisemitism, Institutional Governance and Democratic Norms | Board Leader | Civil Rights Advocate
- Role
- Independent Director at Ambient
- Location
- Chicago, IL, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Karen Gould
Karen Gould is an emerging scholar in political science at the University of Chicago studying hate speech, propaganda and global conspiracies that incite violence and affect how democratic institutions respond when identity conflict becomes politically important. Her work bridges comparative politics and international relations, examining the political and institutional factors that lead to minority-targeted violence globally.She also serves as an independent director and advisor on corporate boards and as an angel investor in women-led early-stage companies. Her global, cross-functional perspective was shaped by senior roles spanning finance, operations, risk, and communications, including as CFO and EVP of Turner Construction.Her work in civil rights advocacy, DEI, philanthropy, and organizational change helped shape her current research and public scholarship agenda on political violence, antisemitism, minority protection, and institutional governance and resilience. She writes the LinkedIn newsletter Derek Eretz, which explores leadership, institutional trust, and antisemitism through an interdisciplinary lens.Beginning in September 2026, Karen will be a Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Leadership and Society Initiative, where she will deepen her work at the intersection of research, public scholarship, and institution-building.
Experience
Independent Director
Jan 2022 — Present · NJ, US
Director for the leading sustainability-focused commercial HVAC distribution, engineering and service company in the Northeast. Sponsored by private equity group, Intermediate Capital Group.
Education
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance, Strategy and International Business
1988 — 1990
University of Chicago
Master of Arts - MA, Social Sciences
Indiana University - Kelley School of Business
Bachelor of Science in Business, Finance
1982 — 1986
Skills
- Leadership
- Mergers
- Strategy
- Entrepreneurship
- Strategic Planning
- Business Strategy
- Finance
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