Karen Mellum, Ph.D., SPHR

Karen Mellum is a learner at heart and has deep curiosity and passion for empowering leaders to deliver their best in complex organizational systems. She currently provides talent management and development through executive coaching, succession planning and leadership assessment to identify and build Mayo Clinic’s leadership pipeline. Prior to Mayo, she led learning and organization development at a community-based health system and helped launch a new management model incorporating evidenced-based leadership practices and lean process improvement. She has consulted and coached executive and senior leaders for over 20 years on best practices in leadership, assisting them in accelerating their performance. Karen holds a master’s degree in Counseling and Social Psychology and a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University in Indiana. She also holds certifications in Organization Development from the University of Minnesota and Advanced Lean Training from Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle. She is working towards Certified Professional Coaching from the ICF-accredited College of Executive Coaching. In her free time, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and high school twins, walking her golden retriever, reading, traveling, and spiritual direction.