Articles Women of Inspiration™ Podcast EP19 – Karen Fonseth

Women of Inspiration™ Podcast EP19 – Karen Fonseth, UCD.D – CEO, DASCH ( Direct Action in Support of Community Homes).

In the episode, I talked with Karen about her path to success and how her adversity has prepared her for dealing with the uncertainty of the Global Pandemic.

For the first time, Karen shared her powerful and inspiring journey from her humble roots to overcoming adversity with a fearless mindset that has paved the road to a successful career as CEO. and a Harvard Business Degree.

Listen to this powerful interview with a woman of inspiration who leads by example and inspires those around her!

Karen is a highly respected Chief Executive Officer with proven skills in effectively growing, managing and developing complex organizations both provincially and nationally. These organizations have ranged from start-ups through multimillion-dollar corporations. Karen is an experienced and analytical Board Director with extensive experience in corporate and board governance, strategic planning, insurance, audit & risk management, finance, communications/media relations, human resource management, government relations, standards, and policy.

Currently, Karen is the CEO of DASCH (Direct Action in Support of Community Homes).  In 1974, DASCH began as a group of families who wanted to provide community-based support for their family members with intellectual disabilities as an alternative to the institutional-based residences and services of the time.  Since 2001 under Karen’s leadership, DASCH has rapidly grown as the organization responded to demand from families, closing institutions and government.  In 2001, DASCH supported 50 clients, operated eleven locations and had a staff component of 55.  Today, DASCH supports hundreds of clients, operates over 60 locations throughout Winnipeg and has a staff component of 700.  As the amount of people DASCH supported increased, DASCH created individualized community-based, person-centered services to support the varying needs represented including behavior supports, health care planning, mental health supports, support for racialized, immigrant, indigenous and other vulnerable groups.  Work placements in the community with a full support team to ensure the individual’s success along with a full clinical department to support the needs of the individuals.  She recently spearheaded the research and launch of a for-profit business to support the needs of DASCH called Nurse Next Door providing care and support to senior citizens throughout her community.  In addition to this major launch of a new company, she also oversaw the launch of a new program within the organization called DASCHWorks.  This is an innovative program brought to Canada with a mandate to identify, support and train individuals with an intellectual disability in order to gaining meaningful employment.  The program participants are already enjoying successes.

Karen is a visionary and innovative leader with proven ability to bring together and strengthen a team due to a high level of personal integrity, ethics and the willingness to lead by example.  In 2013, Karen was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour.  This medal was presented “in recognition of significant contributions and achievements by Canadians for their countrymen”.  Karen is a Harvard Business School Alumna and a graduate of the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Business, having obtained the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D), is a member of the Forbes Non-Profit Council, Boston and was recently presented with the CPHR Manitoba HR Patron of the Year Award for an executive who endorses, supports or champions the HR Function within their organization.

Karen’s community and volunteer work includes decades of commitment to family-centered organizations.  Karen served as the National Chairperson, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, the second woman in the organization’s history to become Chair, the Governance Director, Harvard Business School GMP 19 Radiant Kids School, Gurgaon, India, a founding Board Member of Safe Haven Foundation of Canada, a Director of the DASCH Foundation (the funding arm of DASCH Inc.), a member of the Board of Directors for Children Believe and member of the Audit & Risk Committee with locations in Africa, Asia and the America’s with a belief that every child deserves an education amongst other important mandates.  Karen was also recently elected as a Director of the St. Boniface Hospital (a nationally recognized cardiac care hospital) Ethics and Governance Committee in addition to being appointed as a Director of the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Board of Directors (current Grey Cup champions)

 

What Did You Think?
Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Corporate Partners