Karen Griego
Studied at Pepperdine University
Hiring Manager at Amazon
Available Saturday
Starting at 4:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
About Karen
As a former Amazon Bar Raiser and hiring manager across hundreds of loops, I have seen what sets successful leaders apart. Today, whether I am advising businesses on GTM strategy or coaching professionals to step into their next big role, I bring that same combination of strategic rigor, candid feedback, and real-world empathy. I have spent over 15 years in tech building Product Marketing strategies, launching platforms, and scaling GTM teams across Salesforce, Amazon, and Google. Looking back at my career, from zero-to-one stealth launches to enterprise AI workflows. The common thread is not just GTM, but a deep comfort with ambiguity. I thrive in the unknown. I love taking complex, unformed concepts, asking the right questions, and turning chaos into clear strategies. Working on emerging technology requires high adaptability, and my career is built on stepping into spaces where there is no playbook and figuring things out quickly. That same adaptability applies to my personal life. I am a working mom of two young boys, and for much of my career, I have been the only woman and mother in the room. I know firsthand the balancing act of managing a high-stakes tech executive career while raising a family. I understand how hard it is to keep up in a fast-moving industry, advocate for your worth, and navigate uncertainty without losing your footing.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I know how much a candid, empathetic mentor can change the trajectory of a career. Throughout my 15 years in tech, I have navigated complex promotions, team redesigns, organizational re-orgs, and constant shifts in leadership. What saved me during those turbulent times was having mentors who did not just give me canned advice. They were honest with me, showed real empathy, and helped me see the long-term play when I was stuck in the day-to-day politics. When I became a mom, my relationship with work shifted entirely. Time became my most valuable asset, and I stopped chasing title progression for its own sake. Instead, I learned to hyper-focus on what actually inspired and challenged me, aligning my career with my personal values and knowing my worth. Sitting in Amazon debrief rooms as a Bar Raiser, the most frustrating pattern I saw was not a lack of talent. It was incredible candidates underselling themselves, failing to articulate their true value, or freezing up when faced with a challenging interviewer. They had the skill, but they lacked the narrative and adaptability to show up effectively for different audiences. Whether I am helping a founder build a product or coaching a leader through an interview loop, my approach is always the same: start with the human experience and work backward. The most rewarding part of this work is watching that lightbulb moment happen when a client realizes their full value, finds their confidence, and lands the offer or launch outcome they deserve.
Work Experience
Director of Product Marketing
Salesforce
December 2025 - Present
Interviewer
Workforce Innovation
Head of WW Marketing
Amazon
September 2021 - December 2025
Hiring Manager
Branding, Business Reviews and +16 skills
Sr. Product Marketing Manager - Emerging Devices & Alexa
Amazon
September 2016 - January 2020
Interviewer
Branding, International Marketing and +2 skills
Marketing Manager
April 2014 - September 2016
Interviewer
Marketing + Customer Community
Mattel
May 2013 - August 2013
President
Charity Challenge
April 2013 - April 2014
Marketing Manager
Amazon
December 2009 - July 2012
Education
Pepperdine University
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
2012 - 2014
University of Washington
BA, English, History
2001 - 2005
Activities and societies: Alpha Chi Omega, CORE (Committee Organizing Rape Education) Nanny for two families all 4 years of college.