Winners were selected by a panel based on success as a business leader, community commitment, and track record of paying it forward
New York Business Journal has named Karen van Bergen, Chief Executive Officer of global public relations agency, Porter Novelli, a 2016 ‘Woman of Influence’. Winners were selected by a panel based on success as a business leader, strong community commitment, and a track record of paying it forward.
The award is part of a national effort by American City Business Journals to celebrate women business leaders and create a culture of mentoring. She has served as head of her agency since 2013. She is one of only a handful of female CEOs leading top global public relations firms.
Under her leadership, the firm has experienced significant transformation, marked by growth and award-winning work, and capped by recognition as a 2014 PRWeek Best Place to Work and its inclusion on the 2015 PR News Top Places to Work list, a result of her steadfast focus on talent.
“I believe passionately that when a team is constantly challenged to learn more, given opportunities to develop, and empowered to look out for one another, creativity will flourish, clients will thrive, and staff will come to work whistling,” said van Bergen.
She was previously Senior Partner and SVP at FleishmanHillard and global lead for OneVoice, a consulting team serving Royal Philips Electronics. She also served as Regional Director for the Netherlands, Central and Eastern Europe. She has also completed two stints with McDonald’s totalling more than 13 years.
Van Bergen sits on the board of the PR Council and is a founding member of OmniWomen, which aims to increase the influence and number of women leaders throughout the Omnicom network. She is a frequent mentor to young professional women and was named to the PRWeek Power List in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
