“Every journey teaches you something about people, culture, and connection.” From boardrooms to barns, from AI strategy to animal rescue, this conversation with Karen Hutchings is full of energy, curiosity, and powerful lessons on leadership, connection, and reinvention. We explore how travel expands perspective, how team culture mirrors the harmony (and hierarchy) of her beloved animals, and why curiosity is her superpower for embracing technology and change. Karen shares personal stories from her global career, what she’s learned from living in multiple countries, and why saying YES has shaped the course of her life. Episode timeline (00:00) — Welcome & Karen’s story: from countryside to global stages (02:12) — Horses, goats, and what animals can teach us about teamwork (04:03) — Travel as an enabler for empathy and cultural understanding (05:47) — How India became part of her story (07:10) — Shifting from corporate leadership to animal sanctuary life (09:35) — Why the travel & meetings industry needs to embrace tech and innovation (12:56) — Why the pace of innovation should accelerate (14:00) — Overcoming fear of technology through curiosity (16:52) — Engaging your internal stakeholders for better impact (19:35) — The power of asking questions and not needing all the answers (21:36) — Building networks that fuel growth and resilience (25:35) — Travel as a lifelong career — along with community (27:03) — Words of wisdom: say yes, stay curious, build your network (29:02) — Karen’s gift: travel as the greatest teacher About Karen Hutchings: Founder of Cobb & Hutch Consulting – EST January 2024. Karen is known as a Global Leader learning the nuances of business by living and working in all areas of the globe. Recognized as having an innovative mindset and known for challenging the status quo and driving change across the travel, meetings & events industry. She has never been afraid to take chances and try new ideas and initiatives, an intrapreneur by choice with a desire to always be part of a diverse and high performing team. As part of Cobb & Hutch Consulting Karen is on the Board of HeadBox, a meetings & events technology company, and acts as a strategic advisor to them and Silverdoor, a long stay serviced apartment service provider. Additionally she is supporting Badge, a SaaS platform that enables companies to create SmartCards: digital loyalty cards, membership cards, & gift cards that live in mobile wallets with built-in geotargeting push notification campaigns and Clarasight, which is a carbon planning and analysis platform that helps businesses manage their carbon budgets and emissions plans. On a personal note … While running was always a passion, having run 26 marathons around the world, Karen now spends her spare time with her horses, sheep, cats, rescue dogs Buddy& Bubbles and two goats Billy & Benny as supporting her husband in his downhill mountain bike adventures and supporting a dog sanctuary in Goa India to retain her connectivity with the country she has come to love. Connect with Karen and grow your social capital! On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hutchings-0746a36/ - - - - - - - About your hosts: Connect with Aurélie, your Work From Anywhere techie On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aureliekrau/ Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aureliekrau/ Connect with Tahnee, your resident AI nerd On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahneeperry/ - - - - - - - Liked it? Help us spread the word! If this story resonated with you, share it with yourpeople, subscribe and leave a review. And most importantly, reach out to someone who made adifference in your life! Because THIS is how you grow your social capital!
