Karen Chern - Redefine Alliance

Our Vision
- Our VisionAn economy that works. for everyone.
- Who We BackWe partner with social entrepreneurs to amplify the success of their businesses and the people they employ.
- How We Do ItWe help our enterprises grow further, faster through a combination of capital, capacity building, and community support.
- ImpactOur partnership accelerates the growth and impact of the enterprises we back.
Our Work
- Our WorkWe invest in businesses that reveal and reinforce the talent of people breaking through barriers to employment.
- National Field BuildingWe invest in businesses across the country that reveal and reinforce the talents of people breaking through barriers to employment
  - AcceleratorA six-month cohort-based learning experience for leaders of early-stage enterprises to springboard growth.
  - GrantmakingCatalytic investments for employment social enterprises at key inflection points
  - Roberts Impact Investing FundFlexible loan capital for employment social entrepreneurs whose lived expertise is their collateral.
  - Gov. Partnerships & PolicyAdvocacy and public sector partnerships to advance the field.
  - CommunityCurated space and resources to help our social enterprise partners connect, grow, and lead.
  - Farber FellowshipGrad students bring cutting-edge skills and passion to help employment social enterprises reach their full potential.
- Regional EcosystemsWe’re cultivating place-based networks of social enterprises, inclusive employers, public agencies, funders, and social service partners
  - Los AngelesAn established ecosystem, focused on transformative scale
  - IllinoisA fast-expanding ecosystem, focused on policy achievement
  - AppalachiaAn emerging ecosystem, focused on seeding capacity & coordination
Investments
About
- AboutWe envision a thriving and inclusive society where all people have the jobs and the support they need to realize their full potential.
- Mission & CultureIt’s not just what we do, it’s how we do it that matters.
- Our PeopleWe’re a motley crew of leaders and learners dedicated to building an economy that works. For everyone.
- CareersKnowing your work is improving lives is not the only benefit of the job. View opportunities to join our team.
- SupportersOur generous funders and individual donors make this work possible.
- HistorySince 1997, Redefine Alliance has been using business as a force for good.
- FinancialsRedefine Alliance achieves the highest levels of accountability and transparency.
News & Research
- News & ResearchLearn the latest about the incredible work happening throughout our Redefine Alliance community
- InsightsWe evaluate what works and share our learnings to spark action for policy and systems change.
- WorkshopWorkshop is an open, free virtual capacity building toolbox to help you build, grow, and sustain high-impact employment social enterprises.
- PressCheck out features & interviews on ESEs and inclusive employers from news outlets around the country

Roberts Impact Investing Fund Donate

Roberts Impact Investing Fund Donate

As vice president of programs at Redefine Alliance, Karen Chern oversees Redefine Alliance’s programming focused on driving employment social enterprise (ESE) sustainability and worker mobility. In this role, she is responsible for the programming, resources, grant capital, and capacity building support that Redefine Alliance offers its portfolio of ESE partners. She is also responsible for Redefine Alliance’s data and learning teams.

Karen initially joined Redefine Alliance as a Farber Fellow, helping a start-up enterprise grow and explore new business lines. The experience cemented her desire to continue to work with ESEs as a powerful way to connect talent back into the workforce. She was thrilled to return to Redefine Alliance in 2013 as a full time staff member, and has worked hands-on with a wide variety of ESEs across different Redefine Alliance programs ever since.

Prior to joining Redefine Alliance, Karen was a consultant for a boutique consulting company, providing flexible analytics and scenario planning to R&D teams in life science companies. She graduated with a B.A. in economics from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, where she was director of operations for the Social Venture Fund, the first student-led impact investing fund. Outside of work, you can find Karen enthusiastically but slowly skiing the slopes near her home in Salt Lake City, finding her cooking mojo again, and refereeing her two young sons’ endless unofficial wrestling matches.