Karen Wertman

Karen’s career spans more than twenty-five years in marketing, consulting and business management, where she’s helped build brands in publishing, higher education, technology, consumer electronics, and for diverse civic and non-profit organizations. She's been an entrepreneur and now champions others via her role as Chief Operating Officer of The Port Workspaces, the largest independent coworking company in the Bay Area, with four unique locations. She is an 18-year resident and passionate supporter of her adopted hometown of Oakland, California. Along with partners at Indelible Branding, Karen won a highly competitive RFP to develop the city’s first social media strategy. She was a longtime consultant for Oakland’s annual Art & Soul Festival, and served on former Mayor Jean Quan’s PR and marketing advisory committee.

Karen co-chairs 2.Oakland, a nonprofit group founded by tech and civic leaders working to support and grow the tech and innovation ecosystem. Former consulting clients include Vator where she was executive producer for the firm’s popular Vator Splash events for investors & entrepreneurs. She was instrumental in launching Vator Splash Oakland, after its move from San Francisco. She functioned in the same capacity for Splash LA and helped to produce the inaugural Post Seed venture capital conference. Other consulting clients have included three of Oakland’s largest community benefit districts and her favorite coworking spot (and now employer) -The Port Workspaces.

As an entrepreneur, Karen worked on a number of tech startups as co-founder and CEO.

She calls herself a “fierce collaborator” and believes collaborative leadership styles will become the dominant force as organizations become more diverse.

When she’s not championing organizations and brands, you’ll find Karen in dance classes, hiking in the hills with her dog, traveling, and enjoying the company of her husband and teenage son.