Speaker

Karen Borchert is the Founder and CEO of Alpaca, a company on a mission to bring joy and gratitude to teachers through thoughtfully curated appreciation packs. Alpaca works alongside schools, parents, and community sponsors to support educators with meaningful resources, ensuring teachers feel valued and celebrated for their essential work. Rooted in the belief that investing in teachers transforms schools and communities, Alpaca creates opportunities for connection and gratitude at every level.

Karen’s professional journey spans operations, product management, and entrepreneurship. She has held leadership roles at organizations like ROKA, Flywheel, and Election Systems & Software, and co-founded Keen Guides, a platform for multimedia tours. With a strong foundation in consulting and nonprofit sectors, Karen brings a diverse skill set to her work. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.

Under Karen’s leadership, Alpaca is reimagining how communities can show support for their teachers, leveraging creativity and collaboration to make a profound impact. Learn more about Alpaca's vision and initiatives on their homepage.

About the Talk