Karen Wickre

Karen Wickre is a veteran connector, editor, and communicator who has worked in and around Silicon Valley for an extensive period. In the early days of the internet, Wickre even authored one of the very first guides to what was then known as "the World Wide Web," a now nostalgic relic of a simpler time.

Throughout her career, Wickre has served as a corporate writer, shaping stories, styles, and cadence for prominent companies like Google, Twitter, and numerous startups. As an early member of Google, joining when there were only 500 employees and leaving nine years later when there were 50,000, Wickre experienced various challenges, including war rooms and fire drills. She played a pivotal role in crafting scores of posts that covered product launches, strategic pivots, corporate apologies, and company culture.

In recent times, Wickre has extended her expertise to advise diverse companies seeking guidance on their messaging and content strategies. Her ability to connect with people and possess a keen sense of common sense sets her apart, enabling her to anticipate opportunities and ask the right questions to drive real solutions for teams, companies, and individuals.

Wickre authored a book in 2018 titled "Taking the Work Out of Networking: Your Guide to Making and Keeping Great Connections" (Simon & Schuster), reflecting her long-standing interest in fostering meaningful connections among individuals. This book provides valuable insights into building and maintaining professional relationships.

Her areas of interest encompass various aspects of business communications, including reaching out to visitors, customers, and critics through different channels. Additionally, Wickre possesses expertise in corporate social media, advocating for constructive engagement in conversations. She is also deeply committed to supporting journalism and journalists, currently serving on the boards of The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford and the News Literacy Project.

Wickre's passion for journalism is evident in her co-founding of the yearly unconference called Newsgeist, alongside Jenny 8. Lee and with support from Google and the Knight Foundation. This unique event brings together news producers, gatherers, and developers to exchange ideas and collaborate.

Apart from her professional pursuits, Wickre enjoys a range of personal interests, including her love for dogs, Spotify playlists, and dark UK crime series. She is an avid art collector, with no wall space left for new additions. Her vast collection of slide carousels, photos, music, and her treasured first batch of 45s make her a modern elder in her own right.