Karen Hough

Founder & CEO, ImprovEdge LLC

Karen Hough (Huff) is the Founder & CEO of ImprovEdge (Improv- Edge). ImprovEdge won the silver International Stevie Award for Most Innovative Company of the Year 2012. Karen is also the Amazon #1 bestselling author of “The Improvisation Edge: Secrets to Building Trust and Radical Collaboration at Work,” and her book also made the Top 25 Business Books on 800-CEO-READ. ImprovEdge received the Athena PowerLink Award for outstanding woman-owned business and is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise.

Karen’s first life was as a professional improviser and actor. She trained with Chicago’s Second City, did over 100 theatrical productions, was featured in radio, TV and film. She lived a second life as a successful executive in IT for network engineering start-ups. She finally she became an entrepreneur. ImprovEdge has a presence in six cities nationwide and a client list including ESPN, JPMorgan, OhioHealth, Turner Broadcasting, Coach, and Nationwide Insurance. Karen is a graduate of Yale University and La Sorbonne, Paris IV.

Karen serves on several boards and is deeply committed to volunteer activities. Karen lives with her husband and 3 children in Ohio.