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C-IQ Certified Coach

Seattle, Washington, United States of America

Karen Desko

CIQ Certified Coach

The foundation of Karen Desko’s coaching practice is over twenty years of people management experience – full of passion for helping individuals connect to their core values, work in authentic ways, and unlock their full potential.

After her career in sales management and general management, she then turned her focus to Organizational and Leadership Development, both as an in-house corporate Learning and Development Consultant and then later in her own Coaching, Consulting, and Training firm, Amplio Consulting.

As an Executive Coach, Karen takes a direct and interactive approach to help her clients shift their perspectives and achieve breakthroughs in performance. She uses a humorous and engaging style to help clients increase their self-awareness which leads to better methods of self-management.

Karen’s passionate about accompanying her clients on a challenging and enriching journey full of ‘Ah-Ha’ moments that lead to self-discovery, personal fulfillment, and professional achievement.

In addition to two decades of executive coaching experience, Karen has served as a corporate consultant, a certified Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigator, counselor, and trainer, a career counselor in academia, and an advisor to NGOs and United Nations organizations.

She has worked in organizational capability to drive culture programs and learning initiatives and specializes in designing and delivering customized development experiences for High Potentials/High Performers, Intact Teams, People Managers, and Leaders.

Karen is an experienced facilitator and coach whose clients have included Authenticity Consulting, Avanade, AMAXRA, Boeing, George Mason University, Leamon Group, The International Labor Organization, The World Health Organization, Providence Health and Services, thirteen US Federal sector agencies, Microsoft’s MS Bench Leadership Development Program, and multiple Microsoft business units.

Areas of expertise include; coaching and teaching coaching, using assessment tools including Strengthsfinder, Conversational Intelligence Assessments, Core Values Index, MBTI, Hogan, and 360 Feedback, creating leadership development programs for High Potentials and High Performers, teaching Conversational Intelligence, How to Manage your Manager, Diversity and Inclusion, Applying Inclusive Behaviors, Uncovering Unconscious Bias, Career Development and Networking, Conflict Resolution, Team Dynamics, How to Thrive vs. Survive, Effective Communications Strategies, People Management Techniques, and Leadership Skills.

Karen enjoys staying on top of emerging coaching trends by reading and researching industry evolutions. She actively continues her coach education and mentors coaches. Her education and certifications include:

• CPCC, Certified Professional Co-Active Coach by the Coaches Training Institute
• PCC, Professional Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation
• Conversational Intelligence Certified Coach
• Certified Hogan Assessment Coach
• Certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Coach
• Certified Multi-Cultural Coach
• Certified Core Values Index Coach
• Trainer and Certifier of Pitch Perfect Coaches at Microsoft
• Certified EEOC Trainer
• Member, American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)
• Member, International Coach Federation
• Bachelor of Arts, The University of Virginia
• Completed all coursework/most internships for Masters in Counseling, Virginia Tech

Currently in application process for:

• MCC, Master Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation