Karen Wilson Starks

Dr. Karen Y. Wilson-Starks works with senior, upper middle, and high potential leaders in corporate, government, US Military, non-profit, and faith-based organizations who are challenged by tumultuous change, mergers, acquisitions, downsizing, executive integration scenarios, and leadership shifts. Through customized executive education and coaching, she helps her clients to make wise decisions, prioritize leadership actions, and prepare for higher level responsibilities. Through provocative questions and insights she helps clients to explore alternative perspectives, test and practice options, accelerate their learning curve, make fewer mistakes, and more quickly add value in their work contexts. With more than 20 years of experience at the Center for Creative Leadership and currently as an adjunct faculty member, she facilitates many diverse programs including the Leadership Development Program, The Air Force Leadership Enhancement Program, Coaching for Human Resource Professionals, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellowship.

Her previous positions include serving as an active duty Army Psychologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; operating private practices in a variety of locations; functioning as the Chief of the Psychology Service for the Exceptional Family Member Program in Frankfurt, Germany; and working as the Chief Assessor, Adjunct Coaching Faculty Manager, and Senior Program Associate for the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®) in Colorado Springs.

Educated as a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Wilson-Starks completed her Ph.D. and Master’s degrees at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. She holds active memberships in the American Psychological Association (APA), the Society for the Advancement of Consulting (SAC), the Society for Human Resource Managers (SHRM), and the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA). As a member of the Consulting Psychology Board of Division 13 of the American Psychological Association, she previously served as Chair of the Professional Visibility and Media Relations Committee and is now serving an elected term as Division Secretary.