She leads a team of insurance product development professionals focused on bringing innovative and financially sound products to market.

Kari's career spans more than 20 years in the insurance and financial services industry, including leadership roles at Northwestern Mutual and New York Life. Her background includes product management, financial analysis, financial services distribution, and customer analytics, providing a holistic view of how strategy, operational readiness, and customer value intersect.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

She is a graduate of the 2015 FWA Pacesetter Cohort, an experience that placed her in a group of like-minded women across the financial community. Through the program, she received executive coaching, mentorship, and professional development designed to strengthen leadership skills and accelerate career growth. Kari earned her MBA from The George Washington University and her BBA in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami.

She is an active member of the LIMRA Life Insurance Product Development Study Group and contributes her expertise to industry conversations around product innovation and consumer needs. Outside of work, she lives in Delray Beach, Florida, with her husband and two children, sings with the Schola Cantorum of Florida community choir, and serves on its board.

FWA JOURNEY

I first joined the Financial Women's Association shortly after moving to New York City in my early 20s. I was new to the city and looking to build both my professional and personal network. I visited several different networking organizations, but the FWA immediately stood out as a community of authentic and supportive members who genuinely wanted to help one another grow.

To deepen my involvement and meet new and prospective members, I joined the FWA Membership Committee. Welcoming others into the organization helped me build my own network and gave me a strong foundation during those early years in New York. One of the most memorable experiences of my FWA journey was being selected as a 2015 FWA Pacesetter. The Pacesetter Program provided coaching, mentorship, and leadership development experiences that broadened my perspective and strengthened my executive presence. The program placed me in a cohort of talented, like-minded women—many of whom continue to be part of my professional support system today.

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE

A standout moment from the Pacesetter sessions focused on executive presence, drawing from Amy Cuddy's work on Power Poses. In that workshop, we explored how body language can influence mindset and confidence and how sometimes you can "fake it until you become it". That session left a lasting mark on me. It helped me understand that confidence is not just an internal state but something you can cultivate intentionally through practice, posture, and self-belief. I still practice Power Posing whenever I am headed into a presentation or negotiation where I feel I could use a little extra confidence!

Joining the FWA was far more than a way to build a network—it became part of a lifelong professional community that continues to shape my leadership journey. Through the FWA, I have gained more confidence in myself, in large part because of the consistent support I received from FWA members, mentors, and peers. During a period when I was navigating career advancement while also starting a family, I felt supported by a community that understood the complexity of balancing both. I often tell others I felt "bubble-wrapped" by my FWA community during the early years of navigating career and a young family.

OPPORTUNITIES & RELOCATION

The organization also opened doors to opportunities I might never have pursued on my own, including presenting at large events and even attending the NASDAQ Opening Bell.

In 2018, my family and I relocated to Florida. To continue nurturing my network, I joined two FWA committees: the FWA Florida Committee and the FWA Pacesetter Alumni Committee. Both committees are focused on enhancing engagement for members by creating opportunities for connection, development, and meaningful involvement regardless of location. These committee roles have allowed me to connect to the FWA community in a different capacity than I had while living in NYC.

The relationships I've built through the FWA have offered encouragement, perspective, and support. The organization has strengthened my leadership voice, expanded my network, and given me a deeper sense of purpose as I support other women in return.