Karen Lane by Bernice Samson
Has anyone ever given you advice that you still continue to use today? Could you describe it?
Her mother told her, “You know yourself, tidy up...if you think you can’t do something, just do it.” Karen explained that the best way to do hard things is to just do them.
What is a major decision you’re proud of?
One major decision Karen made that she is proud of is moving to Paris. She made this decision after her husband passed away, and she felt like something was missing in her life. She could not be happier that she made that decision despite the doubt of others.
What is your definition of success?
Karen’s definition of success is “to be happy, and to live a life full of love.” She realized that success cannot be defined materialistically, and that you should live to find and define it yourself.
How do you feel about the younger generation/teenagers? Connected? Similar or different from them?
Karen is “in awe” of what our generation has been able to accomplish. She is impressed by the persistence and strength this generation has shown in battle with institutional inertia. She feels proud to see so much change in society compared to her generation and feels inspired.
Who is one person that inspired you most? Why?
She was inspired most by John F. Kennedy. She described him as being a true leader and eloquently spoken. Being on the younger side, he was more relatable, and she felt that his words resonated within the hearts of Americans and she felt inspired to be like him.
Was there a single moment where you decided on your career? What was that moment like?
“There was no single moment. Except for the time at the age of 12 I decided I was going to be a history professor. I majored in history in college, I did all these things, I was very very interested in diplomatic history...especially in the Soviet Union and era studies. I was finally defeated by the Russian language. I just couldn’t master it. Instead of going for my PhD I really messed up my academic career at that point. There was no clear sailing anywhere. I said ‘this isn’t working’ and my father rolled his eyes and said, ‘thank god you’re getting a real job.’ I left for a masters degree, and knew I wanted to be involved in research in some way and got a job at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the research department which suited me down to the ground. I just loved working there. But when I married, and my husband was offered an opportunity to teach at the University of Washington, of course what was I to do but go with him. We arrived in Seattle in 1970, Boeing was laying off 5,000 people a month and the city was just on its heels. My idea of continuing international research or just research of any kind was just impossible. The only people who were hiring were governmental agencies. I needed a job, I wasn’t even thinking about a career. I got a job there, and that really boosted my interest in working with government agencies and service with nonprofits. I’m not sorry, I’m not sure I would have been a great history professor and I enjoyed the work that I did. It was accidental, I had to step on the ladder somewhere, and so that’s what I did. I got on the ladder.”
How did your careers over time change or influence your values and beliefs?
“I had one career...Public policy management working for government and nonprofits...I was influenced by Jack Kennedy when I was young, that led me to be interested in public policy and be for an activist government that could actually do things. It was necessary at that time. I already had a set of values and beliefs important to me and how I saw the world. The more I worked the more my information changed. My values didn’t, is how I like to think about it. You learn more and understand more, just like Black Lives Matter movement has brought us all a new frame of reference, for a series of issues we’ve been dealing with for a very long time. Are my values different? No, but my information sure is.”
What did you learn about yourself over the course of your careers?
“I learned that I was a lousy politician. I learned that I was a good analyst and writer. I still am both of those, and I was a good executive. I didn’t know any of those things going in, I mean how much experience does a college student have as an executive, none. As I got the opportunity to exercise those skills, I discovered I had some real talent in that area...it’s about how you present yourself. How you walk, how you talk, how strong your handshake is…all of those things are a part of what establishes your authority.”
What is one setback you are grateful for?
“There are always setbacks no matter what. The one thing that upended my life the most, however, was the fact that I was unable to have children. I adopted, and that was a journey I never expected to take. It was a very difficult one [setback] for many years, but it turned out great. I wouldn’t wish for anything else.”
Has anyone ever given you advice that you still continue to use today? Could you describe it?
Her mother told her, “You know yourself, tidy up...if you think you can’t do something, just do it.” Karen explained that the best way to do hard things is to just do them.
What is a major decision you’re proud of?
One major decision Karen made that she is proud of is moving to Paris. She made this decision after her husband passed away, and she felt like something was missing in her life. She could not be happier that she made that decision despite the doubt of others.
What is your definition of success?
Karen’s definition of success is “to be happy, and to live a life full of love.” She realized that success cannot be defined materialistically, and that you should live to find and define it yourself.
How do you feel about the younger generation/teenagers? Connected? Similar or different from them?
Karen is “in awe” of what our generation has been able to accomplish. She is impressed by the persistence and strength this generation has shown in battle with institutional inertia. She feels proud to see so much change in society compared to her generation and feels inspired.
Who is one person that inspired you most? Why?
She was inspired most by John F. Kennedy. She described him as being a true leader and eloquently spoken. Being on the younger side, he was more relatable, and she felt that his words resonated within the hearts of Americans and she felt inspired to be like him.
Was there a single moment where you decided on your career? What was that moment like?
“There was no single moment. Except for the time at the age of 12 I decided I was going to be a history professor. I majored in history in college, I did all these things, I was very very interested in diplomatic history...especially in the Soviet Union and era studies. I was finally defeated by the Russian language. I just couldn’t master it. Instead of going for my PhD I really messed up my academic career at that point. There was no clear sailing anywhere. I said ‘this isn’t working’ and my father rolled his eyes and said, ‘thank god you’re getting a real job.’ I left for a masters degree, and knew I wanted to be involved in research in some way and got a job at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the research department which suited me down to the ground. I just loved working there. But when I married, and my husband was offered an opportunity to teach at the University of Washington, of course what was I to do but go with him. We arrived in Seattle in 1970, Boeing was laying off 5,000 people a month and the city was just on its heels. My idea of continuing international research or just research of any kind was just impossible. The only people who were hiring were governmental agencies. I needed a job, I wasn’t even thinking about a career. I got a job there, and that really boosted my interest in working with government agencies and service with nonprofits. I’m not sorry, I’m not sure I would have been a great history professor and I enjoyed the work that I did. It was accidental, I had to step on the ladder somewhere, and so that’s what I did. I got on the ladder.”
How did your careers over time change or influence your values and beliefs?
“I had one career...Public policy management working for government and nonprofits...I was influenced by Jack Kennedy when I was young, that led me to be interested in public policy and be for an activist government that could actually do things. It was necessary at that time. I already had a set of values and beliefs important to me and how I saw the world. The more I worked the more my information changed. My values didn’t, is how I like to think about it. You learn more and understand more, just like Black Lives Matter movement has brought us all a new frame of reference, for a series of issues we’ve been dealing with for a very long time. Are my values different? No, but my information sure is.”
What did you learn about yourself over the course of your careers?
“I learned that I was a lousy politician. I learned that I was a good analyst and writer. I still am both of those, and I was a good executive. I didn’t know any of those things going in, I mean how much experience does a college student have as an executive, none. As I got the opportunity to exercise those skills, I discovered I had some real talent in that area...it’s about how you present yourself. How you walk, how you talk, how strong your handshake is…all of those things are a part of what establishes your authority.”
What is one setback you are grateful for?
“There are always setbacks no matter what. The one thing that upended my life the most, however, was the fact that I was unable to have children. I adopted, and that was a journey I never expected to take. It was a very difficult one [setback] for many years, but it turned out great. I wouldn’t wish for anything else.”