Karen Orford

About Karen Orford

As a Go-to-Market strategist I’ve worked alongside hundreds of early-stage startups helping them to take bold ideas from concept to scale. My approach is grounded in decades of practical hands-on experience and actionable insight, not just theory.Known for a candid style and an unwavering curiosity, I thrive on mentoring, advising, and collaborating with founders who are shaping what’s next. My work energizes me and there’s genuine joy in what I do every day.My professional journey spans continents and cultures, anchored by a global perspective and a wide-reaching network of influential peers. I excel in complex, fast-evolving markets by spotting trends early and architecting creative growth strategies every step of the way.Born in Australia, raised in Papua New Guinea, and with significant chapters throughout Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, northern Sweden, and more than 15 years in the US, I bring a multicultural lens to every conversation. My explorations have taken me through 85+ countries and countless transformative experiences.I’m committed to volunteering and championing social impact, driven by a passion for technology, equality, and, most of all, my family.PERSONAL GOALS: Speak at TED, serve on more nonprofit boards, continue to push for equality in education, inspire my daughters to be anything they want to be. WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: Driven, focused, strategic, activator, achiever, open minded, fair. SPECIALITIES:GTM Strategy & Market Entry | Enterprise SaaS & B2B SaaS | Product Market Fit | Value Proposition | Market Selection | Pricing Models | Messaging | AI-Assisted Customer Acquisition & Onboarding | Revenue Growth | Business Development

Experience

1. Member Board of Directors

   Community Boards

   Nov 2023 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Established in 1976, Community Boards, headquartered in San Francisco, is the longest running nonprofit conflict resolution center in the United States.

Education

• Stanford University Graduate School of Business

  Executive Management | Amplify Your Persuasive Impact

  2023 — 2023

• UCLA Anderson School of Management

  Executive Management | Corporate Board Governance

  2023 — 2023

• University of Canberra

  BA Communications, Public Relations & Marketing

  1987 — 1991

Skills

• Monetization
• Interactive Entertainment
• Community Sites
• Software as a Service (Saas)
• Business Development
• Casual Games
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Positivity
• Entrepreneurship
• Enthusiast
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Networking
• Virtual Currency
• Social Games
• Teamwork
• Virtual Goods
• Player Acquistion
• Mobile Applications
• Online Production
• Online Gaming
• Cloud Computing
• Video Games
• Mobile Devices
• Mobile Games
• Management
• Payments
• Start-Ups
• Mobile Content
• Virtual Worlds
• Revenue Modeling
• Mmo
• Marketing
• Strategic Partnerships
• Positive Team Player
• Social Media