Burn Survivor


Founder & Principal, PeopleThink 

Karen Colligan, founder and principal of PeopleThink, is a recognized expert in leadership, team effectiveness and organizational development. She partners with organizations in a variety of industries to develop and retain their most precious asset – their people. 

An active volunteer with the Phoenix Society for many years, Karen is herself a burn survivor.  At age two, she received second and third degree burns from scalding bathroom tap water.  This experience has impacted her entire life, and inspired her to get involved in helping other burn survivors. 

With a corporate background that includes creating and leading innovative people initiatives across the enterprise, Karen founded PeopleThink on the core belief that for companies to achieve competitive advantage, they must address the needs of their people as well as the needs of their business.   Since its inception, PeopleThink has delivered significant business results for numerous organizations with an emphasis on Hi-Tech, Biotech/Pharmaceutical and Non-Profit sectors. 

Karen’s is tireless in her desire to build leadership capacity within organizations.  The Keep it Real Leadership Program recognizes the unique style of each leader and is a platform that equips and elevates emerging and advancing leaders.

Karen’s deep expertise and engaging presentation style have made her a popular keynote and motivational speaker at cross-industry venues, national sales meetings and corporate conferences.  

Karen earned her BS in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco. She is a member of the Astra Women’s Business Alliance; Bay Area Organization Development Network (BODN); the Association for Talent Development (ATD); and Bay Area Consulting Network (BACN). PeopleThink is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). 

Karen is an avid runner, and has run twice so far for Team Phoenix in the Big Sur Half Marathon. She loves music, cooking, and bringing people together for good food. And as a Jersey Girl, one of her favorite getaways is relaxing at the Jersey Shore.