Snapshot: A Blast
From Karen’s Past
Here’s a mix of some of Karen’s early career highlights over three decades from the pre-digital days & the modern era.
Wrote & produced the Vancouver Canucks NHL Yearbook 94/95. (First paid project ever!) This was the year the Canucks went to the Stanley Cup finals and I was a massive Canucks fan. A dream come true.
Named Kwantlen University College’s Commencement Address Speaker for the 1998 graduating class.
Part of the Leadership Team responsible for one of the biggest exits in Canadian tech history as Bit Stew Systems is acquired by GE Digital for $200 M in 2016. (Pictured with Founders Alex Clark & Kevin Collins on announcement day.)
Interviewed by the iconic Shushma Dhatt for her Women in Focus television show for the second time in my career. The first in 2005 and the second in 2021.
Interviewed for the third time by radio and television broadcaster Shushma Dhatt for her popular radio show talking about various community issues.
Served as a Co-Author of Pursuit 365 where short stories are submitted by influential woman in Canada. I dedicated my story to my Mother, Harbans Kaur Johal who is living vibrantly at age 90.
Published an article in BC Business’s Women of Influence issue in 2017 on workplace issues affecting women.
Part of the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (VISAFF) organizing committee in 2013, which is focused on bringing South Asian-centric stories to the community.
Co-Chaired Southridge School’s signature fundraising Gala in 2012 and 2013. Changed the business model for this event in order to reduce vendor costs and increase revenues. All fundraising efforts went towards lasting legacy projects for the students at the school.
Appearing for the first time on the Women in Focus show hosted by Shushma Dhatt in 2005, where I talke about balancing my full-time career and responsibilities as a young Mother. I also provided advice for other young women looking to get into careers in PR and business.
On Air with Shushma Dhatt in 2013 talking about my career path and the importance of preserving South Asian heritage through forums like VISAFF.
Featured on the front page of the Vancouver Sun Business section for my new job as Communications & PR Manager for tech start-up ISM-BC. This article appeared on May 17, 1999.
Vancouver Sun article in the Business section - May 17, 1999
Featured in The Province business section on May 12, 1994 which profiles my internship and work in producing the Vancouver Canucks Media Guide. I was the first student the Canucks ever took on as a co-op, and they only did so due to my year-long volunteer commitment to the Canuck Foundation. No golden opportunities come without putting in the time!
Front cover of the 1994 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide which I wrote & produced while interning in the Canucks Media Relations Department. In this role, I organized press conferences and player interviews on game nights. All very exciting during the Stanley Cup finals!
Appeared on the front cover and feature story of Tamana Magazine in 1999, which was targeted to young South Asian professionals. No longer in production, this was one of the very first publications designed for this community and was published by the National Association for South Asian Professionals in Toronto.