Episode 30-Karen Whitaker Interview: Thoughts on the Leaders of the Future -Building My Legacy with

Welcome to Episode 30 of Building My Legacy.

In the last of our series of five podcasts with Karen Whitaker, Vice President at Grin + Beam, Lois Sonstegard asks Karen to describe what future leaders will look like. In today’s competitive talent market – in which employees are likely to change jobs every two or three years – it’s important to look at the future differently. What can you do to keep your employees more engaged and productive while you have them? And is there anything you can do to keep your best employees longer?

People want to feel valued, trusted and empowered – by their organizations and their managers. The most progressive and successful organizations are listening to their employees and taking steps to foster an environment of trust. Karen shares examples of work she has done to create a trusting environment.

So if you want to know:

- What it takes to encourage millennials to stay with an organization
- Why future leaders will need to be experts in cultural management
- How some companies are able to attract and keep good talent
- Why integration is just as important as diversity

About Karen Whitaker

As Vice President of Business Development for Grin + Beam, Karen is responsible for leading business and relationship strategies enterprise-wide for this company that offers an innovative approach to oral health.

During her 15-year career in clinical care, Karen has proven to be a true “connector” in the healthcare community. She has worked with public and privately owned companies, start-up ventures and merging entities to help these organizations develop a competitive advantage through strategic positioning, planning and patient education practices.

From corporate settings to the operating room, Karen has had hands-on experience in sales, marketing and clinical education. Her gift for forging relationships is a result of her professional values: accountability, compassion, honesty and