Karen M.R. Townsend, Ph.D. is president of KTownsend Consulting—an organizational development firm that works with leaders to create inclusive environments and build strong teams so that they can effectively meet the needs of their diverse clients and customers. Dr. Karen’s goal is to equip professionals with the tools required to live and lead…confidently.
Dr. Karen is the founder of About My Sisters—an organization “on a mission to empower one million women and girls.” In 2018, her annual conference, Sister To Sister, celebrated its 25th Anniversary and was recognized as one of the longest-running women’s events in the United States. An author and advocate for women, Dr. Karen is the author of the best-selling book It All Started When I Stopped Using Lotion: One Woman’s Journey From Chaos to Calm. “The Lotion Book” encourages women to “Take their TiME: Time for ME!” and is being used by organizations across the globe to support the professional development and career advancement of high potential women leaders.
Dr. Karen holds degrees from Kentucky State University, The Ohio State University, the University of Dayton and completed specialized training in diversity education from the International MultiCultural Institute. She is a recognized subject matter expert whose articles on diversity and inclusion have been featured in local, regional and national publications and media outlets.
Dr. Karen is an active community volunteer and has served on the boards the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, YWCA Dayton and the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center. Most recently, Dr. Karen was appointed to serve on the advisory board for the WomenFuture Conference which is sponsored by the Stevie®Awards—an international association dedicated to recognizing outstanding business owners worldwide. In 2019, Dr. Karen was recognized by the Dayton Business Journal in the category of “Woman-owned Business of The Year.”
