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Have you ever had a boss who saw more in you than you saw in yourself — and pushed you to become it?
In this episode of The People Success Circle, I sit down with Karen King, my former boss at McDonald's Corporation, to explore an extraordinary 40-plus year career that took her from crew member to Chief Field Officer. Karen shares the leadership lessons, the candid advice from mentors, and the personal sacrifices that shaped her path — including being the first woman in multiple roles at McDonald's and what it really took to break through. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom on mentorship, advocacy, and what it means to lead with personal power instead of just positional power.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Karen's path from 19-year-old crew member to Chief Field Officer, including 14 relocations across her career
- The pivotal advice from a McDonald's US president that shaped how Karen led: build personal power, not just positional power
- Negotiating her own advancement before agreeing to a stretch role — and why women especially need to speak their goals into truth
- Being a "first" in multiple roles at McDonald's, and the pay gaps and biases that came with it, including being demoted during pregnancy
- Why Karen considers developing and advocating for talent the most meaningful part of her legacy
- How her late husband Matt's support at home was the anchor that allowed her career to thrive
- The role of networking and saying yes to opportunities in building a personal and professional development strategy
- Why authentic, people-first leadership — not just operational excellence — is what people remember most
Listen for mindset shifts and practical takeaways you can start applying right away.
About Karen King:
Karen King began her career at McDonald's Corporation in 1975 as a crew member in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and went on to build one of the most accomplished leadership journeys in the company's history. Over more than four decades, she relocated 14 times, rising through operations and franchising into executive leadership roles including Regional Manager, East Division President, Chief People Officer, and ultimately Chief Field Officer — overseeing the entire U.S. business outside of marketing and product development. Karen was a trailblazer for women at McDonald's, becoming the first female restaurant manager, supervisor, and consultant, and she is widely known for her commitment to developing and advocating for talent throughout her career. Since retiring from McDonald's, she has continued to share her leadership insights through board service and mentorship, helping the next generation of leaders — particularly women — find their own path forward.
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn
Join Networking School & Become Known In Your Industry: https://limerockconsulting.co/networking-school
Company Website: www.limerockconsulting.co
Speaking Website: www.mindyeast.com
