Karen began her career as a teacher of Music and Drama at Gravesend Grammar School for Boys (Kent, UK) in 1998. She moved to Wilmington Grammar School for Boys in 2001 to become Head of Music and Drama and also became Head of Darwin House after undertaking a project to restructure the House System. At Wilmington, Karen led the development and growth of Music, Music Technology and Drama, directing several shows and concerts, and recording CDs and taking musical groups on tour. She became Director of Learning for the Creative Arts at Valley Park School in 2009, a specialist Arts College. Here she was able to run several transition Arts projects with feeder primary schools.

In 2011, Karen took the position as Head of Music at Wellington International School in Dubai, and in 2014 Karen became the Manager of the GEMS Music Academy and the network leader for Performing Arts in GEMS.