“Change is opportunity. Continuously learn. Remember to ‘give back.’ ”

With a positive motto that embraces life’s many turning points, Karen Preston is uniquely suited to guide executives through their own career journeys. At Navigate Forward, she works one-on-one with senior leaders in transition, helping them dovetail their own passions and purpose with an ideal career opportunity.

Karen led human resources (HR) teams for more than three decades before joining Navigate Forward, working in talent acquisition, human capital management and global HR operations. A Michigan native, her roles took her around the world: she has lived in nine states and in Bangalore, India, and traveled extensively during her sixteen-year career with GE. Her corporate HR experience includes additional leadership roles with Amazon, Kellogg’s, Pentair, RTI Surgical and SuperValu. In 2021, she launched her own HR consulting firm.

Before finding her calling in HR, Karen studied fashion merchandising and marketing at Eastern Michigan University. For a decade, she worked for several large retailers.

Once again residing in Michigan, Karen now gives back to her community by volunteering her time and expertise. She currently serves on the board of trustees of University of Olivet, as well as supporting their Women’s Leadership Institute. She appreciates the college’s long history of diversity and inclusion. She is also a member of the GE Alumni Women’s Network.

In her free time, Karen enjoys spending time with her family and exploring all her home state has to offer. You can often find her outdoors, either along the beautiful lake where she lives, or swinging a club on the golf course.