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Searching for a creative spark? This interview has you covered. Karen Hutchison, Exadel’s VP and Global Head of Talent sees growth as a result of decisive action and personal ownership. Her story is proof that standing still is never the answer. She reminds us that success belongs to those who go after it.
In this conversation, we asked her about her professional journey, the future of work, and the advice she would offer to others navigating the rapidly evolving world of technology.
Can you tell us about your professional journey and what brought you to Exadel?
I started my career in sales, then spent 10 years in financial services, followed by more than 15 years in IT recruitment — building and scaling tech teams across different markets. What brought me to Exadel was actually quite unexpected. I took a referral call while standing on a beach in Portugal on the last day of my summer holidays.
That conversation was with our COO, James Dalziel. We spoke about people, growth, and making an impact globally. It immediately resonated with me. I knew I could make a difference — and here I am, almost six months later.
How do you usually kick off your workday?
Coffee is king. I start by checking my LinkedIn feed and messages, reviewing my calendar, and locking in my priorities from my to-do list — which I prepare the evening before. I used to work with a paper notebook, then switched to a reMarkable tablet, and recently moved everything to Google Sheets. I’m officially converted.
What does “Global Talent” really mean at Exadel?
Global Talent is a strategic partner to the business. We are the engine that powers growth. We attract and hire exceptional people from around the world and connect them with our engineering teams to build impactful solutions for our clients. But our role goes beyond hiring.
We provide data-driven insights, talent intelligence, and advisory support to sales and account teams — and sometimes directly to clients. There’s a direct correlation between hiring and revenue, and we are accountable for that.
What excites you most about talent and people at Exadel?
First and foremost — my team. They surprise me every day with the results they produce.
Secondly, the numbers. I’m very competitive, and the best benchmark is always last week, last month, last quarter. Watching our productivity grow through creative talent solutions is incredibly rewarding. And finally — the technology.
The pace of innovation at Exadel is phenomenal. Being surrounded by talented engineers who are willing to build automation and AI-driven solutions that make our work faster and smarter is a privilege. I’m a big believer in automation and AI, so this environment is inspiring.
What makes someone stand out when it comes to growth opportunities?
Initiative. Taking ownership. Leading without waiting to be asked. That’s what A-players do.
Earlier in my career, I was sometimes labeled a “job hopper” because every 18–24 months I moved roles — sometimes internally, sometimes externally. I never saw that as a weakness. Standing still is not an option for me. Growth requires forward motion. Opportunities rarely knock. You have to create them.
We’re fortunate at Exadel to have a strong Learning & Development function, including initiatives like our AI Academy, which makes growth more accessible than ever.
From your perspective, what will matter most for employees in the next 2–3 years?
Keeping up to date with the fast changing advancements in technology. We’re very lucky here to have an exceptional engineering mindset and communities supporting that, as well as the opportunity to learn new and emerging skills. I also think human connection will become more and more important again.
Has any recent idea or book influenced your thinking?
I’ve been fascinated by the Digital Red Queen theory in the context of AI. I recently attended an event with Dr. Michelle King, an organizational psychologist specializing in leadership and the future of work. She spoke about how, in evolutionary theory, species must constantly evolve just to survive.
The same applies to us — but the pace of AI evolution is unprecedented. Adaptation isn’t optional. You have to keep up or you will be left behind, for sure.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
I’ve been working for a long time so I’ve got quite a few I can share! There are some that are easy to remember, sound a bit cliche but work well:
- Never take more than 3 problems to your boss at any one time and always present a solution to the problem. Even if you don’t have all the answers, have a go at it.
- Read the room – emotional intelligence plays a big part in career progression. Knowing when to keep quiet is as important as knowing when to speak up.
- Be prepared – with your numbers and your narrative – data means nothing without insights so be able to tell the story behind the numbers and explain the ‘why’. This will take you from good to great.
- Don’t ask your team to do something you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself!
If you were starting your career today, what would you focus on first?
My network. It’s immensely valuable. Relationships take time and intentional effort. They are an asset you should never take for granted.
What’s a lesson you learned the hard way?
We learn lessons every day but I would say making sure you have professional boundaries. Boundaries with people, with time, and with information. We spend a lot of time at work and it’s easy to become overwhelmed or over familiar, this can lead to professional boundaries becoming blurred – you miss the odd kids football practice when you’re working on a critical project ok, but to go weeks without eating dinner with your family – that’s not cool.
I’ve seen people hit burnout that way. It’s great that at Exadel, putting your health and family first is one of our core values and I see people living it every day – which makes me really happy.
