What they say
"Karen is a powerful and insightful coach that I could, at the same time, relate to. I really appreciate her authenticity and her personality, all while conveying the theory and methods.
- Carla Flosky, Mechanical Design Engineer.
Karen practices what she preaches with empathy and to see this from someone in a leadership position is refreshing.
- Katelyn Gilmour PhD, Clinical Scientist
Karen herself is nothing short of an inspiration for women doing their best to thrive in the corporate world.
-Marisa Mason, Marketing Strategist
Always available to listen and share, Karen uses her experience and joyful leadership to help others develop themselves." - Silvia Villareal Soto PhD, Bioprocess Engineer
About Karen
Dr Karen Jones is a scientist, marketing leader, coach and trainer who has enabled consistent delivery of $500-$1Bn annual revenues and associated growth targets across 4 major divisions within the world’s largest STEM company - Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Her philosophy to success is simple: look after your people, and they will take care of the rest. Her focus on wellbeing as a foundation of high team performance has meant that she never had to struggle to attract talent, and she could retain great people despite competitive pressures. Her annual employee wellbeing surveys consistently exceeded 90%.
She has experienced first hand how STEM companies’ consistent focus on data, finance and process over people and teams results in burnout, demotivation and talent drain in highly competitive fields, particularly for senior women. She aims to eradicate the resultant senior leadership gender imbalance by supporting women to claim their rightful place and income without the usual self-sacrifice.
Multi-award winner for leadership including President’s Club (awarded to < 1% of company)
Consistent delivery of revenue and growth targets in healthcare diagnostics, life sciences and pharmaceutical development markets
Founded the first female group coaching initiative in the company, enabling over 200 women to overcome stress and career stagnation
Founder of BioEngagement, supporting SMEs to commercialise biotech innovations
Mum of 2 teenage women, trainer of 1 unruly dog
25+ year yoga and mindfulness devotee
Believer in joy, connection, freedom as guiding principles
ICF and One of Many - accredited coach and trainer
Karen's Journey
Karen is a former molecular geneticist turned leader, coach, and trainer, who started her career as a cancer research scientist back when "cutting edge" meant radioactive sequencing and hours preying for eureka moments in the dark room . Her stint as a Harvard post-doc in a Boston US-based cardiology research lab followed by a series of biotechs underscored her lust for learning and the realisation that coupling science with commercialisation was more her thing. She had to shed a few beliefs to move over to the “dark side” of commercial science and never looked back.
Despite an early promising career progression, reality hit hard when she experienced sudden redundancy whilst on maternity leave with an 8-week-old baby and a 2-year-old. Sporting a Superwoman cape, she juggled mum duties, entrepreneurship, and the kind of burnout no one sticks on Pinterest. A move into corporate life added another layer of challenge, but she had the fortitude to embark on a coaching program which succeeded in breaking the cycle, rekindling her leadership flair and mental zen.
Today, with over a decade of people leadership, women's coaching and ICF accreditation under her belt, she uses coaching to steer women away from her own rocky career bumps and towards work and life fulfilment without the downside. Nestled in Macclesfield, UK, she shares life with her partner, two fantastic teenage daughters, and Jürgen, their pointer - named with a nod to Liverpool's iconic manager.
FAQS
What is Align Change Thrive all about?
ACT is all about helping mid-level female managers to awaken to what is possible for them and claim the role, impact and income they deserve...without the sacrifice. Having been there and got the T-shirt (and mug), I know what over-achieving, hard work and long hours delivers after a while: more hard work, long hours with a nice dollop of mental decline. Possibly a side-order of relationship breakdown. Seriously, let's stop this and get smart about where we want to go and get there without the burnout and sacrifice.
How does Align Change Thrive do all that?
Through freebies like:
Escape the Self Saboteur Guide
The First 90 Days Guide
14 Steps To Major Career Transition
The Good Meetings Reference
Leaders Behaving Badly Checklist
Cheat Your Way to Awesome Presentation Skills
Or great articles like:
Today I Sucked Soup Out of My Keyboard
My Dream Croft in Shetland
My Chronic Visibility Problem
I Think I'm Being Judged by Anecdote
Too Much Non-Promotable Work?
What is That on Your Back? Is it…A MONKEY??
Or brilliant offerings like:
The UPLIFT Corporate Women's Group Coaching Program
The Success Without Sacrifice Mini-Course
Newbie Women People Leader Mastermind
And of course, the ACT Women at Work email newsletter
I'm not a leader...is this for me?
Am I a leader if I don't have the title? If you’re a mid-level female manager in a large organization, feeling stuck, unmotivated, and juggling life's responsibilities (like kids, community, parents), then yes—you are a leader. Your workplace might not label you as one, but let’s be honest—many of us have settled for less, even though deep down we know we're destined for more, with plenty of untapped potential. Imagine unlocking that with more ease and less struggle. Sounds familiar? Then this is for you.
Is this a series of webinars with an accreditation for afterwards?
Short answer: NO.
Long answer: NOOOOOOOOOO.
Seriously; I provide the tools, map and guide to help you move from your current state of work/life dissatisfaction, to one where you’re confidently in charge of your direction, vision and purpose, whilst being equipped with a new host of approaches to get you there without sacrifice.
Want to roll around laughing on the sofa with your kids, without the creeping feeling that you must stop soon and clear the dishes or finish that email?
How about replacing the habit of “finish work then start another one” after the laptop is closed to one when you flow and stay present? Together, we’ll create that reality.
This process is deeply collaborative—crafted by your intentions with options for a safe space to talk, bucket loads of support, expert guidance, gentle accountability and warm encouragement.
What time committment is needed? I don't have much time...
Hey, I’ve been in your shoes—I get it. Adding one more thing feels IMPOSSIBLE. But guess what? It’s totally doable. If you have got used to putting yourself so far down the list that the washing machine filter gets more care and attention than you, then it's time for a change. The fact that you’re even here means your moment has arrived. You need it, you deserve it.
I have created an online course option, so you can learn the process at your own pace, or you have the option to add in the group coaching sessions (2 optional times per week), where you’ll get the added experience of accountability, friendship and deeper support. You can choose what works best for you.
How much does it cost?
There are different cost options, depending on whether you choose to embark on the online-only course, or online course + group coaching or my top-tier offer of online course + group coaching + 1:1 coaching. Just book a brief call and let’s talk about what would work for you.
