THE CAREER CATALYST

I HELP high-performing leaders on the brink of something big take charge of their career and create tHE next chapter on their terms.

You’re a high achiever.

Driven by ambition, a pioneer who’s carved your own path instead of following the crowd. You don’t wait for opportunities. You create them. You learn fast, execute faster, and you’re already successful.

And yet you know there’s more FOR YOU.

You’ve built something remarkable, but you can feel the plateau. The visibility, influence, and opportunities you want will not come from repeating what you’ve always done.

You know you’re leaving potential on the table.

You can’t shake the thought: How can the depth of your experience translate into your next chapter in a way that expands your impact without starting over?

And then there’s the idea. The one that’s been with you for years. A bold vision or mission that’s bigger than your current role allows, one that’s ready to take shape but needs the right timing, positioning, and strategy to make its impact.

You are deliberately holding at the edge, scanning the landscape, weighing your options. You know the next move matters.

The moment you act, the next chapter begins to take shape

Together, we can....

Increase your influence and visibility, unlocking opportunities that position you at the next level of leadership.

Leverage the depth of your expertise to launch the ventures, secure the roles, and create the opportunities that align with your vision.

Advance the bold ideas you have been holding onto, the ones that could reshape your career, your industry, or your impact.

Execute your vision with precision and momentum so the next chapter of your career becomes your most powerful yet.

Move at the right moment with the right strategy, ensuring your next move is not just big, it is defining.

The leaders who move now will set the tone for what comes next.

"I’m evolving into the next best version of myself because of Karen and her coaching!"

Nicole Danielle | Award-Winning Author

Karen Kunkel Young Creative Career Coach

HI, I’M KAREN.

High-performing leaders come to me when they are at a critical inflection point in their career and ready to take charge of what comes next.

I know this moment because I’ve lived it. After a successful run as a senior television executive producing programs for some of the largest global brands, I decided not to let my career happen to me. I took charge, made my own move, and built the next chapter on my terms. Now I help my clients do the same.

For over 25 years, I have built a career of bringing big ideas to life— launching multi-million-dollar creative projects, developing breakthrough talent, and leading 100+ high-performing teams for successful series on platforms like NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, and A&E Networks. I excel at taking bold visions from concept to execution.

I work at the intersection of corporate and creativity, which is exactly where my clients operate, grounded in results and driven by vision. This unique perspective helps leaders see the bigger picture, spot hidden opportunities, and move decisively toward the roles, ventures, and ideas that will define their next chapter.

My clients do not wait for the right moment. They create it.

If you are ready to take charge of what is next, I can help you move with precision, momentum, and maximum impact on your career and influence.

Here’s how we can work together

READY TO SOAR

Your Ongoing Partnership for What Comes Next. High-performing leaders work with me when they are ready to take charge of what comes next. At this level, you don’t need another plan. You need a trusted partner who can see the bigger picture, help you spot opportunities others miss, and ensure your next move delivers maximum impact.
Over 6–12 months, we work together in a high-caliber partnership designed for leaders shaping what comes next. This is not about incremental growth. It is about positioning yourself for the defining roles, ventures, and opportunities that will shape the next chapter of your career.
Through focused strategy sessions, targeted advisory support, and decisive accountability, we will refine your vision, amplify your influence, and sustain momentum on your most important moves. Whether you are navigating a major transition, expanding your influence, or building the platform for your next venture, Ready to Soar is where bold vision meets precise execution — with results that last and impact that expands.

WORK WITH ME
CREATIVE CATALYST

Your Career, Reimagined.This is where high-performing leaders redefine the game. In a focused 9-session sprint, we sharpen your positioning, refine your narrative, and design a next chapter that reflects your values, amplifies your influence, and aligns with the scale of your ambition.
We begin by mapping the landscape: surfacing the patterns, opportunities, and constraints that may be limiting your full potential. Next, we design your ideal career, one that is aligned with your values, anchored in your strengths, and supported by confidence. This is where we build a roadmap that reflects both your expertise and your vision. Finally, we activate your success toolkit. refining your narrative so your value is unmistakable, and strategically presenting it through targeted outreach, high‑impact positioning, and influence‑building opportunities.
This is not about incremental change. It is about stepping into your next chapter fully positioned, highly visible, and moving with precision, momentum, confidence, and impact.

I want this
Power Play

Three Hours. One Defining Move. Sometimes you don’t need an ongoing engagement — you need a decisive strategy session that cuts straight to the heart of a high-stakes moment.
In this 3-hour intensive, we zero in on your most pressing opportunities and decisions. Together, we strip away the noise, identify the critical moves, and map the strategy that will deliver maximum impact.
Whether you are navigating a complex transition, positioning yourself for a high-visibility opportunity, or making a decision that will shape your next chapter, this is the space to sharpen your vision and act with precision.
You will leave with clear priorities, renewed confidence, and a decisive plan designed to create momentum and move you forward with authority.

Let's go!

what PEopLE are saying

"Karen is the ultimate enabler of self-confidence; she somehow simultaneously challenges you directly with piercing (in a good way!) questions that help you get to the ROOT of your biggest blockers, whilst also pumping you up and reminding you of what you are ALREADY doing/capable of. I’ve never met someone who can get you to reflect so critically on precisely what matters, what the root cause of something is, whilst also giving you so much confidence and energy to fight for growth. My belief that my wildest dreams are not just possible, they are becoming a reality. Simply put, I’ve achieved my #1 dream since working with Karen."

Chris Lavoie | Founder & CEO, Partnership Mastermind
"As a long-time television Showrunner, I appreciated Karen's years of experience as a producer and high-level executive. She understood the nuance of entertainment and met the moment as the business weathered an upheaval like I've never seen in my 20+ years of producing. I've emerged from my time with her more steadfast in my mission and better able to articulate it, more confident in my skills as an entrepreneur and storyteller, and highly equipped to meet the moment as my career shifts gear."

MARY BETH ANDERSON | CEO & Founder, Junk Drawer Creative Studios
"Karen helped me craft a one-minute pitch for my pediatric oncology startup that was clear, compelling, and high-impact. Her coaching on pacing and sentence clarity was exceptional, and she gave me the gentle push I needed to step fully into my role as CEO. Karen brings a rare blend of strategic messaging expertise and supportive coaching that’s perfect when the stakes are high."

Caroline Brun | CEO, Voxel Healtcare
“Karen’s coaching is a salve to the psyche during this challenging period of contraction in the media industry. As your steadfast supporter, she cultivates a positive, forward-focused mindset paired with holistic intentionality that helps you show up as your best self. Most importantly, she's an attentive and empathetic listener who helps dismantle limiting beliefs, while reconnecting with strengths that fueled prior successes, propelling you toward new achievements. She's also a reliable and trusted advisor, inspiring momentum through insightful guidance and encouragement between sessions. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Karen.”

Chris Gidez | Show Runner & Master Storyteller
“She helped me find my innate ability to lead. I have a newfound confidence in my managerial approach, editorial judgment, and overall direction. As a result of Karen’s coaching, the big shoes that an executive must fill now fit much more comfortably.”

KYLE McCABE | Executive Producer & Show Runner
“One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about working with Karen is having the space to be creative. I’ve often come to our sessions in search of clarity on an issue. Once we get to the root, we have fun brainstorming solutions, creating action plans, setting goals and timelines. By working with Karen, I unlocked insights that propelled me to action."

JAVIER GONZALEZ | Luxury Fashion Executive & Entrepreneur
“I never felt comfortable opening up to others in the way I was so effortlessly able to do with Karen from our very first session. We started our journey at a milestone moment with my first book being edited and finished this part of our journey as my book got published - and I can honestly say, I would not have had the courage to see this through without Karen’s beautiful spirit as my guiding light. Anyone who gets to work with Karen will instantly be awakened to who they can become.”

NICOLE DANIELLE | Author & TV Producer
“I don’t know if I ever would have come to the conclusions that I reached without her help. So, it is with one step in front of the other that I am slowly writing the novel that is so important to me I feel more creative. Lighter. More accepting of failure because I know none of it matters unless I give it power. It’s been all about a lifestyle change for me, this shift, and it’s only happening because Karen showed me that I am more than I think myself to be."

ADRIA MARSCHALL | Writer & Producer
“Karen brought a warmth, enthusiasm, and professionalism that immediately made me feel at ease doing deep self-exploration. Working with her helped me deepen my perspectives, transform my mindset, and develop actions that I have been able to sustain. I'd highly recommend her to anyone looking to "take charge" of their lives with intention.."

KEVIN DELOS REYES | Sr. Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
“Working with Karen is a truly unique experience and helps you maintain focus on taking action. She has a knack for driving accountability. With Karen, it's not just about setting goals, she ensures you're on track, making progress, and always looking further to make sure every base is covered. Her approach is both supportive and challenging, pushing you beyond your comfort zone while ensuring you never feel overwhelmed.”

JOAN G. | Marketing Executive
"Before I did the Creative Spark with Karen, I was feeling pulled in a few different directions. Like many people, stressful experiences from past jobs were making it hard to look into the future with a positive outlook. This assessment helped me see I have more choices than I thought – both in what I do next in my career and how I approach it. Thanks Karen!"

Becky Kaplan Farone | Founder & Self-Authority Speaker
"After an emotionally draining layoff, Karen helped me set goals for all aspects of my career transition. She is very skillful at helping me to discover my own goals and values. She was attentive to my emotional tenor and helped me identify when i wasn't excited about a position or when i was displaying my best self. Her interview prep helped me accentuate the positives and engage the employers' curiosity--the first place I interviewed after working with her made me an offer."

Luke Stacks | Program Specialist