Karen Zolik

About Karen Zolik

Adept at \"herding cats\" and \"hurdling rocks.\" I am a result-driven, certified project management professional with a strong track record of delivering outstanding results. I specialize in operations optimization, human resource research, and analytics. I provide data-driven business decisions, seamless program start-ups, and streamlined knowledge product development. I foster cross-divisional trusting relationships and manage complex variables with ease. I’m seeking the next great opportunity to leverage my strategic leadership, communication skills, and attention to detail to add value to the right organization. Summary of Qualifications: • Project management professional. • Business relationship management professional. • Analytical and business research expert. • Deliver on time and budget in all project lifecycle phases. • Optimize processes and resources to influence project performance. • Early risk identifier. • Proficient project management software user, including Microsoft Project. • Proficient business analytics software user, including Microsoft Office Suite and IBM SPSS. • New user of Microsoft PowerBI and Adobe Creative Cloud applications. • Exceptional communicator with a strong ability to collaborate and build partnerships.

Experience

1. Strategy Program Manager

   Wilder

   Jul 2024 — Present

   Provided leadership and support and managed projects with budgets of up to for programs and Wilder Research to center families• Leveraged project management skills in program design, operations, and organization effectiveness.• Aligned program leaders\' perceptions with executive actions. Addressed objections and facilitated collaboration to align projects and avoid duplication. • Managed corporate initiatives while establishing/tracking initiative adoption measures.• Managed the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy wealth building grant spend-down. • Developed journey maps with an external firm to document and educate employees about family pathways, expectations of Wilder, and family demographics/profiles.• Established a family advisory council with facilitation consultants to support Wilder’s whole family approach efforts, uplifting lived experience in parallel with existing board governance.• Completed an internal partnership assessment to paint a full picture of the role partners play in bridging service gaps and maintained an up-to-date partner database.• Archived and made accessible past and new whole family resources to support ongoing organizational learning on organization’s SharePoint site.

Education

• University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business

  Certified Professional Project Manager

• Bethel University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Management Concentration

• Purdue University

  Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering