Let Me Introduce Myself
Hi, I'm Karen!
I help solos and small teams bring AI into their businesses thoughtfully—so they can work smarter, amplify their impact, and stay focused on what matters most.
As a Fractional COO turned AI advisor, I’ve seen firsthand how fragile workflows and founder bottlenecks get exposed when AI enters the mix. You can’t layer AI on top of chaos and expect magic. That’s why I help business owners create strong systems and smarter habits first—so AI adoption feels clean, focused and transformative.
WHO I HELP & HOW
My clients all hit the same turning point: success brought more complexity, and the old ways of working no longer fit. The founder is drowning in decisions. The team relies on them for everything. Delegation feels risky, and now AI is being pushed into workflows that weren’t stable to begin with.
That’s where I come in.
I help solos and small-but-mighty teams reset their operations and leadership habits to support AI. Together, we design workflows, decision systems, and team practices that make adoption smooth, human-centered, and actually useful.
MY QUICK BIO
I’ve spent 25+ years guiding teams through high-stakes, high-uncertainty environments — from early software product launches at Intuit to counterterrorism operations at the CIA. Both taught me the same thing: when it matters most, clarity and trust are everything.
Today, I bring that discipline to small businesses navigating growth and tech disruption at the same time. I’ve helped clients build scalable operations, roll out AI workflows, double fulfillment capacity without hiring, and design leadership systems that don’t burn people out.
MY APPROACH & PHILOSOPHY
I don’t build systems that require me to stick around in order to work. My goal is to leave you more equipped and your systems more resilient — so you can lead with confidence long after I’m gone.
That starts with listening first, surfacing hidden assumptions, and co-building solutions that work for your people and your context. It’s how we build buy-in, reduce chaos, and make AI adoption just another smart decision — not a leap into the unknown.
When you’re ready to lead your business into the AI era — with clarity and confidence — I’d love to help.
Curious whether we’re a fit?
Start with a quick call to walk through what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. Book a Discovery Call.
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hi, I'm Karen!
I help solos and small teams bring AI into their businesses thoughtfully—so they can work smarter, amplify their impact, and stay focused on what matters most.
As a Fractional COO turned AI advisor, I’ve seen firsthand how fragile workflows and founder bottlenecks get exposed when AI enters the mix. You can’t layer AI on top of chaos and expect magic. That’s why I help business owners create strong systems and smarter habits first—so AI adoption feels clean, focused and transformative.
WHO I HELP & HOW
My clients all hit the same turning point: success brought more complexity, and the old ways of working no longer fit. The founder is drowning in decisions. The team relies on them for everything. Delegation feels risky, and now AI is being pushed into workflows that weren’t stable to begin with.
That’s where I come in.
I help solos and small-but-mighty teams reset their operations and leadership habits to support AI. Together, we design workflows, decision systems, and team practices that make adoption smooth, human-centered, and actually useful.
MY QUICK BIO
I’ve spent 25+ years guiding teams through high-stakes, high-uncertainty environments — from early software product launches at Intuit to counterterrorism operations at the CIA. Both taught me the same thing: when it matters most, clarity and trust are everything.
Today, I bring that discipline to small businesses navigating growth and tech disruption at the same time. I’ve helped clients build scalable operations, roll out AI workflows, double fulfillment capacity without hiring, and design leadership systems that don’t burn people out.
MY APPROACH & PHILOSOPHY
I don’t build systems that require me to stick around in order to work. My goal is to leave you more equipped and your systems more resilient — so you can lead with confidence long after I’m gone.
That starts with listening first, surfacing hidden assumptions, and co-building solutions that work for your people and your context. It’s how we build buy-in, reduce chaos, and make AI adoption just another smart decision — not a leap into the unknown.
When you’re ready to lead your business into the AI era — with clarity and confidence — I’d love to help.
Curious whether we’re a fit?
Start with a quick call to walk through what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. Book a Discovery Call.
Certified
Equity-Centered Leader
Certified
Equity-Centered Coach
Certified Equity-Centered Leader
Certified Equity-Centered Coach
I Want You to Know My Values
My core values are how I prioritize work, make decisions, and collaborate with teammates and clients. I put these in play every day, and I learn every day how to do better.
I believe that every human being deserves to be safe and loved. I believe that Black Lives Matter, and I’m committed to elevating entrepreneurs from communities that have been marginalized — and dedicated to creating a welcoming, equitable experience for all.
Ownership
I own my boundaries and I’m responsible for resourcing myself. I ask for what I need. This value reminds us to recognize our own contribution to the situation (even if it’s just how we are perceiving the situation).
A Curious Lens
I lead with curiosity, empathy and objectivity (but without naiveté). Seek first to understand. This value reminds us not to over-rely on our intuition (or assumptions) which center our own identities and biases, instead of the person we are working with.
Transparency
I commit to communicating expectations: no mind-reading & no hidden yardsticks — and I ask for the same. It’s where everyone can do their best work. This value reminds us we aren't mind-readers (and we shouldn’t pretend to be). Neither is anyone else.
Agreement
I use and model invitational language that prioritizes finding agreement & seeking consent. I bake consent into my mentoring, my proposals, my projects, my recommendations and my consulting advice. This value reminds us we don’t tell, we invite — and we ask for consent before proceeding.
Accountability
I do what I say I’m going to do, so that others can rely on my word. This value reminds us to step up or speak up, because downstream progress relies on us keeping our word.
This whole value chain reminds us to think systemically and to realize individual performance is a product of systems. My protocols and practices (formal and informal) dovetail from putting these values into practice. They guide and shape my work.
As Featured In...
"Karen was a trusted advisor and A-level executor
in my business. She created the operational infrastructure that allowed our company to scale
to 7-figures — reducing team burnout and overwhelm in the process.
She overhauled internal systems and replaced them with stronger ones (project management to technology to hiring processes), which positioned us for fast and sustainable growth."
Selena Soo, CEO / Impacting Millions
"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Karen for more than a year and I love her no-BS approach.
She brought the right structure into our business to help us as we scaled to 50 locations.
I highly recommend Karen to help you build the right foundation so you can achieve your goals.
Karen, You’re amazing at what you do and more people need to know about you!"
Jamie Seamans, Co-Founder / Garage Kings
Business Operations Strategy & Helping Founders Ignite Their AI Era
I help solos and small teams adopt AI and transform the way they deliver results. I build systems that scale your ingenuity and your impact. You’re in the right place if you want to explore AI in a way that protects your team, your clients — and what already works.
On this Site, We Explore:
• Responsible, ethical AI practices
• Equity-centered business practices
• Scaling your impact with AI — without breaking what works
Human in the Loop: Lead Where AI Can Follow
Most AI content is about prompts and tools. This one’s about the real work: shifting the way you lead.
Start Here:
• Upstream Leadership: The Mindset Shift That Makes AI Work for Small Teams (Read Here)
• How Pressure to Adopt AI is Really an Invitation to Rebuild Your Team (Read Here)
• 6 Ways Your Business Treats You Like the Only Adult in the Room (and Why AI Makes it Worse) (Read Here)
• 9 Leadership Habits That Can't Survive the AI Era (Read Here)
© 2025 KAREN SERGEANT • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED