Focus Accelerate Lead
Karen Rule
Culture & Leadership Consultant | Psychologist | Executive Coach | MBA
I’m Culture and Leadership expert, psychologist and coach with over 25 years of experience helping leaders and organisations turn intent into impact. My corporate career spans global HR leadership roles with Citibank (New York and Sydney), and Shell (London and Melbourne). These roles grounded my expertise in strategic human resource management, organisational effectiveness, and leadership development across industries and geographies.
For the past 15 years, I’ve worked as an independent consultant and coach, partnering with more than 30 corporates and coaching over 2000 leaders. Along the way, I’ve co-designed award-winning leadership programs, guided executives through complex cultural change, and honed my coaching skills recognised by the International Coaching Federation (PCC).
Creator of WILDA
The Women in Leadership & Development Accelerator Program
Today, my focus is on WILDA (Women in Leadership Development Accelerator) — where I work with HR, People & Culture, and DEI leaders to deliver a practical and methodical program that unlocks women’s potential and builds organisation-wide leadership capability to mentor and sponsor women. The WILDA Program is unique in design by including male sponsors and line managers in building an inclusive culture. Already, the WILDA program has accelerated 100+ women and 200+ senior leaders towards measurable progress on gender equity, career progress and inclusive leadership practices. As well as returning measurable change, the WILDA program supports Respect@Work and WGEA reporting obligations for Australian organisations. The program often pays for itself through improved retention and reduced turnover costs, as well as boosting “employer of choice” rankings.
Why work with me? I thrive on cultural change that creates a positive ripple effect on human behaviour at work; I hold a London MBA in Strategic Human Resource Management, and I draw on organisational psychology to deliver my work. In 2024, I was featured by Coach Foundation among their Top 20 Coaches list, recognising my impact in leadership and executive coaching.
My clients describe me as insightful, pragmatic, and forward-thinking — someone who challenges with warmth, sharpens leadership impact, and helps them accelerate meaningful change. I have a deep commitment to leverage inclusion to unlock the untapped potential of everyone in the workplace.
Contact me on linkedin if you wish to get in touch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenrule
Or explore https://www.wilda.com.au/ (Women in Leadership Development Accelerator) to see the program and free downloads.
Industry Experience
• Energy– Shell, BHP, AusNet, AGL, Newcrest Mining, St Barbara, Beon CitiPower, Viva Energy
• Entertainment & Food – Crown, Nestle, Mondoleaze, Mars, Simplot, General Mills, Saputo, Nespresso
• Financial Services & Consulting – Citibank, KPMG, ANZ, NAB, Zinfra, Lendlease
• Government & Semi-Gov’t – Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, SE Water, Unity Water Qld, Dept of Veteran Affairs Canberra, Sustainability Victoria, SRLA, Metro Trains, Victoria Police, SES
• Charities – World Wildlife Fund, Good Shepherd, Asperger’s Victoria, Scope Australia
Testimonials
Since meeting Karen more than ten years ago, I have engaged Karen to work with me at Newcrest Mining, Simplot and Saputo Dairy Australia on a range of organisational development initiatives. I’ve done this, quite simply, because she’s great at what she does. A trusted partner who has a broad range of deep skills; a fantastic facilitator, coach, advocate and promoter of women in leadership and a genuinely good person to work with.I’ve learned a lot from Karen over the last decade and always value her insights, creative thought and the solutions she delivers.
Katrina Lewin
Organisation Development, Talent and Leadership Manager
Karen is simply one of the best coaches I have come across. Her ability to quickly merge organisational and individual needs is impressive. Karen has a mantra “coaching is not a lifestyle choice”-when time is short and development budgets tight, Karen’s action-oriented and time-bound approach is both refreshing, results-focused and most certainly impactful!
Aaron Lamers
HumanResources Director, General Mills
Across my12-month coaching program, Karen has provided me with great insight and ways to manage my role and sound strategy in managing up and down and working through the issues I was struggling with. Karen came with extensive knowledge, skills and experience to assist me in my development not only at work but on a broader personal level of wellness and work-life balance. During the sessions I changed what I needed due to organisation review and Karen was able to adapt and offer advice and support through her extensive knowledge and experience. I would recommend Karen as a great coach as she is a great listener and her ability to unpack your mind and complexity of the role you are undertaking has helped my significantly in not only my role but to ensure balanced wellbeing of myself”.
Ray
Senior Public Servant
I have no hesitation in expressing my appreciation for Karen’s coaching capabilities. She isalways authentic and constructive. Her style was refreshing and provided me with insightful leadership skills and I am confident will benefit my ongoing professional and personal development. It already has.I valued our discussions on peoples’ diverse style and how she could connect my observations to psych theory and therefore enhance my understanding and knowledge.Above all, I wish to thank Karen for enabling me to successfully re-set myself from a professional dilemma. Together with the support of others, I am no longer “on the ropes” –Karen’s coaching made a significant difference.
Peter
VPS Executive Director, Victoria
I had the privilege of working with Karen through leadership development & maternity leave programs. She steered me through a really tough challenge of navigating a first time leadership role, then transition to maternity leave and then back into a new management position and without her coaching I would have really questioned my decision making and done what so many women do and devalue my strengths. The leadershipprogram that shedelivered uponmy return to the work force was invaluable in breaking down 'barriers' and created a safe place for me to develop into the leader I have wanted to be. I couldn’t recommend Karen enough.
Lisa
Environment & Sustainability Manager, Victorian Utility Company
Working with Karen has been an incredibly enriching experience for me and I am just so fortunate that I have crossed paths with her as a professional attending one of her development and leadership programs. Her engagement, facilitation style and brilliance have left such a lasting impression on me that I knew at the end of the program that she would be someone I would want to work with. Karen has since been working alongside me as my mentor and coach. The positive experience that I continue to have with her to this day have been unparalleled. Karen’s strong background in Psychology along with her broad organisational experience of working with diversity and people at all levels have been pivotal to my growth and my advancement in my career journey.Her in-depth insight and understanding into the complexity of human behaviour, personality traits and personality types have enabled me to develop not only a greater level of perspective into things, but also have grown in my level of empathy towards others. This has helped me enormously in being able to navigate my way out of many challenging and difficult workplace situations without compromising my values or authenticity. Karen is someone that I consistently speak very highly of. She is without a doubt an outstanding individual who is also exceptional at what she does. Above all, she is authentic and is a mentor and a coach I can always count on to have my back."
Kate
Executive Supply Chain Manager, Coles
Awards/
Accreditations
Karen co-designed and delivered the Simplot suite of leadership development programs that won the 2106 category Award of Australia’s Best Leadership Development Program. The program was uniquely experiential and delivered a step change in leadership skill to the company. The leadership graduates each created innovation projects that delivered substantial investment returns to Simplot.
Karen Rule
Level 8/60 Albert Rd,
South Melbourne VIC 3205