Originally from South Wales, Kaz is now a London based HR professional whose main skill is people development and resilience training. She currently works as a business coach for Innovator International, supporting over 100 entrepreneurs from across the globe to build successful enterprises whilst also developing her own business in Resilience. She volunteers with the Chelsea Pensioners and is a supporter of St John. Juggling a career with 21 house moves in several countries, 2 kids, dogs and horses has presented lots of opportunity for differing roles, including Director of a Nursery Group, Operations Director for a group of gyms, Self-defence trainer for the Met Police, Head of Strategy for a large chain of Private Health Clubs, Consultant to an Outdoor Education company, Ski Instructor, Dinner Lady and working in a toy shop.
The numerous demands faced by Army wives are huge. Karen has been deeply inspired by the FW Community, and the impact a network of support, friendship and adventure can have on one’s self-belief and resilience.
‘Forces families face incredible challenge, often on a daily basis. Moving home, leaving familiarity or making new friends every 2 years (or more often!) long periods of time as a ‘single parent’ during deployments – then learning to be a partnership again, trying to explain to the kids why they have to move schools and friends (again), coping without a real support network, trying to hope for the best whilst fearing the worst when our partners are unavailable or in war zones, balancing all the elements to create a happy home with the disruption of service life, often whilst juggling a job as well, trying to find a way to carve out a career when you’re never anywhere for long enough to climb the promotion ladder – the key player in influencing the emotional stability of the whole family – the list goes on.
“Forces wives understand each other, and you almost don’t have to explain what’s going on for you when it gets tough. To experience the power of bringing this group together in a safe supportive environment, on the training weekends was just incredible. FWC, with the leadership and vision of Heather, creates something special and I want everyone in our diverse and widespread Forces community to hear about FWC, and know they have somewhere to go. And thanks for giving the girls that can’t sing somewhere they belong’.
Karen explained one of the reasons for her taking on this challenge ‘I know too many people who have taken their own lives. I’m passionate about supporting people with mental health challenges and developing resilience. If this trip can influence just 1 person to take action, to ask for help, to hope, to reach out, to believe, to take 1 tough step, whether it be getting out of bed, stepping outside the house or retracing the steps of Norwegian heroes, it will be worth every minute of blood, sweat and tears. And there have been lots of tears…’
Karen is a staunch supporter of women supporting women – ‘what if, women everywhere backed each other. What do you think we could achieve? Unconditional support of an all female team is so powerful – but all too rare. So I want to showcase to the world what happens when we stand together and straighten each others crowns – we are just 12 ordinary women who together, have the potential to be World beaters’.
Karen’s favourite activity is laughing. She added ‘with this group, I laugh loudly, and often. That’s a wonderful thing’
Having accidentally run a marathon in 2002, she is hoping to be better prepared to face the biggest challenge of her life so far and learn who she is when she’s not being a Mum, a career woman or supporting the military community. She is however, questioning her wisdom in signing up to do this at her age.
Karen is one of the FWC HoT Ladies - The World’s First Female Team to retrace the Heroes Of Telemark mission.