Karen Riddell

About Karen Riddell

As an experienced Program Management and Operations Leader with 20+ years of progressive experience in the fast-paced automotive industry, I have a proven track record of leading global cross-functional teams, mitigating risks, and overseeing large-scale initiatives from planning through execution.I excel at creating clarity out of chaos by developing frameworks, defining governance, improving existing processes, and commonizing tools & systems enterprise-wide. My success has come through bringing together global cross-functional teams, fostering stakeholder engagement, and driving collaborative problem solving to execute strategic initiatives.I believe Program Management is the communication thread that keeps all levels of an organization informed and on-track. My passion for program management is fueled by: The opportunity to engage with team members from all functions of a business Bringing clarity to complex challenges and designing pathways to resolve them Improving the bottom line through successful new product launches and continuous improvementMy passion for optimizing processes and driving continuous improvement has been integral as I’ve established and scaled the Program Management function across multiple business units during a major organizational transformation. I led the implementation of common governance frameworks across the organization, driving standardization, compliance and reporting transparency to enhance decision making and risk mitigation while aligning with industry systems and standards including Lean Six Sigma, AIAG and IATF 16949. In growing the Program Management department from 10 to 20 individuals through both internal development and strategic hiring, I established an on-boarding plan to ensure new team members had the tools and company-specific information necessary to be successful. The on-boarding tool was also useful in determining what areas to focus in mentoring or training for each program manager.I am looking for my next leadership role and welcome the opportunity to connect.

Experience

1. Senior Program Manager - New Launch

   Dakkota Integrated Systems

   Oct 2025 — Present

Education

• Michigan Technological University

  A.A.S., Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology

• Central Michigan University

  M.S.A., Information Resource Management

  2003 — 2008

• Baker College

  B.B.A., Business Administration

  2001 — 2003

• Michigan Technological University

  A.A.S., Electrical Engineering Technology