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Karen O'Leonard

Head of Innovation at Willis Towers Watson

Karen O'Leonard is the Head of Innovation at Willis Towers Watson (WTW), where she plays a pivotal role in driving the company's innovation strategies across global and cross-business initiatives. With over two decades of experience in product management, data, and analytics, she has successfully launched various software products and data-driven services worldwide.12

Professional Background

Before joining WTW, Karen worked in notable product development roles at Apple and Javasoft, a division of Sun Microsystems. She later co-founded a startup that grew into a multi-million dollar business before being acquired by Deloitte. At Deloitte, she served as the Vice President of Talent Analytics, where she built an analytics platform to assist HR leaders in making data-driven decisions.12

Innovation Initiatives

At WTW, Karen leads the innovation pipeline by incubating early-stage concepts and promoting a culture of experimentation through design thinking and rapid prototyping methodologies. In 2019, she initiated the Willis Towers Watson Growth Board, aimed at investing in transformative projects that can open new markets and business models.12 Additionally, she has been instrumental in developing programs like Innovation Masters, which trains employees in innovative practices to support internal and client projects.2

Advocacy for Women in Innovation

Karen is also passionate about increasing female representation in the tech industry. She has expressed concerns about the gender imbalance in innovation roles and has actively worked to create opportunities for women within her organization. Under her leadership, initiatives have seen a significant increase in female participation in innovation projects at WTW.34

Overall, Karen O'Leonard's career reflects a commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity within corporate structures, making her a notable figure in the field of corporate innovation.

Highlights

Jun 3 · wtwco.com
Shining a spotlight on female innovators - WTW
May 12 · youtube.com
Karen O'Leonard Head of Innovation at WTW s - YouTube
Karen O'Leonard Head of Innovation at WTW s - YouTube
Aug 26 · sonr.global
Innovation Function - Karen O'Leonard - Willis Towers Watson - Sønr
Innovation Function - Karen O'Leonard - Willis Towers Watson - Sønr

Related Questions

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Karen O'Leonard
Karen O'Leonard, photo 1
Karen O'Leonard, photo 2
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Location

United States