Karen Chan
(she/her)
As an entrepreneur, I center the creation of sustainable opportunities for marginalized groups and individuals. In my 20 years working as a C-level administrator in a corporate environment, I witnessed first hand the need for equitable changes in the workplace. I am a child of Chinese immigrants and bring a unique multicultural perspective to the creation of brave spaces. My family’s migration story and my life in the Chicago area deeply shape my aspiration to increase the visibility of minoritized voices.
My Story
As a co-founder of reframe52, my mission is to bring human connection, collaboration, and community back into the workplace - to make them safe spaces so that we can bring our true, unedited versions of ourselves to our working environments without judgement.
I am an entrepreneur and small business owner with over twenty years of experience in Corporate. In 2020, I started my own consulting firm, Clarady LLC, where I provide services and consultation on finance, strategy and operations for startups and small businesses. I dedicate my time to understanding every single client and their businesses resulting in collectively saving and recovering over $1 million for my small business clients.
At this same time, I co-founded reframe52 with Diane Nititham and Danielle Mužina. Inspired by their methods and approach to teaching complex social topics and issues, I saw the opportunity to solve the challenges of DEI in the workplace where one-time, check-the-box, empowerment solutions were running rampant.
Prior to founding Clarady and reframe52, I served as the Chief Administrative Officer for a boutique executive search firm for 16 years. I ran the business, leading the charge in every way - finance, operations, HR, and technology.
In 2025, I was elected to serve on my local school board. Public schools are the heart of a community, and I believe every child deserves access to a great education, and I am committed to ensuring that our schools delivers high-quality and equitable education.
I earned my BA in Communication from DePaul University while working full-time, and I am one of the first in my family to graduate college.