Fidelity Investments

Working across the brokerage organization to improve the associate digital experience through the thoughtful implementation of AI tools.

Director, Product Management, Associate Digital Experience

Jammify

Jammify is revolutionizing how musical artists interact with their fans, and how fans experience their favorite music.

Advisor

Partnership Leaders

Partnership Leaders is the industry association for Partnership / Channel / Alliances / Business Development leaders.

Member

MassChallenge

Immersed in the dynamic ecosystem of MassChallenge, a global leader in acceleration programs, I am dedicated to forging strategic partnerships that tackle pressing challenges. My role revolves around pinpointing inventive solutions to complex issues within the music industry and recognizing high-impact product opportunities poised for disruption. Additionally, I provide invaluable mentorship and consultation to nascent startups, harnessing my expertise to guide their early-stage growth and development.

Technology Innovator in Residence

GH Strategic

Consult with organizational clients on effective go to market and brand positioning strategy guiding them through the process of defining and polishing their purpose in their product,  resisting commoditization, and enjoying outsize profit margins. The team includes George Howard, one of Newsweek's "America's Greatest Disruptors" co-founder of ACME Innovation and Tunecore.

Principal Consultant

Sparrow Live

Strategically led a $12M technology startup specializing in streaming Platform as a Service (PaaS) for the music industry, emphasizing the cultivation of key partnerships. Crafted and executed effective product strategies while orchestrating end-to-end product delivery within the organization.

Key Achievements:

Achieved 600% month-over-month growth.

Collaboratively developed and iterated product that witnessed organic and rapid growth, with a low customer acquisition cost of $0.79, translating into an average lifetime value exceeding $100.

Distilled user behavior data into actionable insights, shaping product enhancements and customization to user preferences.

Conducted comprehensive market research to stay abreast of the competitive landscape and industry trends, informing strategic decision-making.

Notable B2B clients include the National Health Service (UK), the Federal Reserve Bank, Harpoon Brewing, and Hudson Valley Property Group.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Francis Rogers, Tenor

Advanced expertise in the technical and entrepreneurial facets pivotal to thriving in the performing arts, with a distinct focus on forging strategic partnerships. My approach involves immediate performance adjustments guided by real-time audience feedback, dedicated to crafting an unparalleled audience experience. Furthermore, I strategically cultivated performance opportunities through targeted marketing and astute business development tactics.

Key Highlights:

Delivered solo performances to captivated audiences at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as high-profile sporting events like the NBA Finals and Monday Night Football. These performances reached international televised audiences exceeding 19 million viewers.

Thrived in high-pressure environments, consistently adapting to real-time feedback. Years of experience performing lead roles honed my ability to maintain precision and accuracy under pressure.

Garnered a substantial global following through a multifaceted approach encompassing social media engagement, live performances, and strategic networking endeavors.

My career has been underscored by a strategic mindset, ensuring every performance opportunity is maximized through effective partnerships and a relentless commitment to audience satisfaction.

Classical Tenor

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Spearheaded strategic development of the organization's fundraising initiatives, with a distinct focus on forging and nurturing key partnerships.

Spearheaded comprehensive donor research efforts to identify optimal funding opportunities and messaging strategies.

Achieved an extraordinary increase of over 1,000% in annual giving within my portfolio.

Successfully orchestrated the 'Tanglewood Forever' campaign, surpassing the ambitious $64M target by raising $70M in funds.

Formulated innovative organizational strategies for the annual fund, leadership annual fund, and major gifts, introducing novel programming to drive engagement.

Effectively managed a diverse portfolio of more than 150 Major Gifts prospects, actively engaging and collaborating with the BSO Board of Trustees.

Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated an aptitude for strategic partnership cultivation and a commitment to exceeding fundraising objectives.

Major Gifts Officer

Campaign for Catholic Schools

Proficiently curated and cultivated a diverse portfolio comprising 200 prospects, skillfully soliciting gifts of up to $250,000, with a keen eye toward nurturing strategic partnerships.

Pioneered the establishment of a committee comprising influential business leaders, driving an impressive 64% growth in the leadership annual giving society.

Effectively concluded an impactful $11M capital campaign, orchestrating the transformation of a low-income school in Dorchester, MA through strategic partnerships.

Strategically devised and executed a comprehensive annual giving campaign, encompassing direct mail initiatives and personalized solicitation efforts.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to the art of relationship building and fostering strategic alliances that drive meaningful impact.

Senior Development Officer

Development Officer - Director of the Annual Fund

College of the Holy Cross

Expertly orchestrated and oversaw the annual giving initiatives for twenty-three distinct classes, demonstrating a knack for forging strategic alliances.


Spearheaded the successful 15th and 55th reunion giving programs, strategically coordinating volunteer efforts and personally engaging top prospects.

Took the helm of the Holy Cross Fund reporting technology, solicitation calendar, and matching gift and pledge reminder programs, showcasing a commitment to streamlined and impactful partnerships.

Throughout my career, I have excelled in building collaborative relationships and driving strategic partnership initiatives that yield significant results.

Assistant Director, The Holy Cross Fund

With a rich history spanning over a decade in the music industry, I bring a wealth of experience as a dedicated innovator, fundraiser, and researcher, all geared towards pioneering collaborative solutions to intricate challenges.

My current role as a Technology Innovator in Residence at MassChallenge, a global leader in accelerator programs, involves a relentless pursuit of disruptive product opportunities, providing guidance to emerging startups, and orchestrating in-depth market analysis within the dynamic realm of music.

Previously, I held the esteemed position of Co-Founder and CEO at Sparrow Live, a thriving technology startup valued at $12M, specializing in Web3 streaming Platform as a Service (PaaS) for the music industry. My tenure at Sparrow Live epitomized visionary leadership, where I charted the course for effective product strategies, meticulously oversaw end-to-end product lifecycle, and masterfully managed daily operations. This spanned from product development and investor engagement to production, enterprise-level sales, marketing, and top-notch customer service.

Under my guidance, Sparrow Live achieved remarkable feats, witnessing a staggering 600% month-over-month user base growth in the inaugural year, translating to a monthly revenue stream of $10,000. Additionally, our venture secured an impressive $300,000 in independent pre-seed round funding within a mere three months. Furthering our innovative strides, I brokered a pivotal partnership enabling the delivery of content and concerts to the Decentraland Metaverse, an Ethereum blockchain-powered virtual reality platform. My multifaceted skill set, honed through fundraising, rigorous research, effective teaching, and a deep-rooted passion for music, was instrumental in realizing these accomplishments.

Francis Rogers

Founder | CEO | Using data to build happier, healthier communities IRL | AI Adventurist | Startup Advisor | National Media Keynote Speaker | Happiness Warrior 🌈

Hi! I’m Karen, a multidisciplinary founder, mom, and storyteller who has spent 20 years at the intersection of communication, healthcare, technology, and human connection.

My work now centers on AI, social health, and the future of community. I've taught over 100 AI classes and most recently co-founded an community for AI-first founders, so no entrepreneur ever needs to build alone again. 

I'm known for translating complex ideas into simple, meaningful action - and for the now viral grassroots movement that transformed after-school care in my MA town.

I’m available for keynote speaking, AI thought partnership, and CEO support with sales, marketing, strategy, and fundraising.

Karen Kelly 🌈

Today’s my birthday 🎂 And instead of a big personal goal for 2026, I’ve got one simple mission: Help my network succeed.

That means:
🔺Making thoughtful introductions
🔺Sharing opportunities early
🔺Inspiring human-centered change en mass
🔺Using what I know (and who I know) to create momentum for others

We’re living in a moment where connection, trust, and generosity compound faster than almost anything else. If you’re building, pivoting, leading, or are ready to expand - I’m in your corner.

If there’s a way I can be helpful this year, tell me.
If I can open a door, make a connection, or be a sounding board - happy birthday to us. 🎉

Here’s to a year of shared wins.

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It still blows my mind that there was a "longevity" themed TEDx in Boston last October and not one speaker addressed Social Health. The data is OVERWHELMING, but many health-tech companies won't to show it to you because it doesn't support buying deeper into their biometric monitoring systems.

In Harvard's 80 year longevity study, the major finding was clear.  People with the warmest connections to others...

- were the happiest
- stayed healthiest as they grew old
- lived the longest

Meanwhile, later in October, I was on a different TEDx stage talking to a very different crowd in Concord about my lowest professional and personal moment...how it changed everything about how I live, and how I came to discover I needed community more than I could have imagined. I desperately needed to improve my social health.

I can't wait to share it with you when it goes live. Mostly because I get excited when I see articles like the one in the The Wall Street Journal today (link in comments), talking about how being naturally social, PERSISTENTLY social, actually heals yourself and others all at once. The tide is starting to turn. 

Imagine, that the best thing you can do for your health doesn't cost any money?

This is 2026's new wealth.

This is social health. 🩺

#socialhealth #tedx #comingsoon

It's January and the cold outreach is comin' in hot and heavy! If you're about to send a message that includes “pick your brain," let me offer a more effective alternative.

One of the best networking books I ever read, Never Eat Alone, lays out an extremely powerful premise: strong networks aren’t built through extraction, they’re built through intention and generosity.

“Pick your brain” is vague and signals one-way value. Think about it - if that successful person gave every brain-picker 30 minutes, they'd have no time left to work, let alone continue to be successful.

Here's what I suggest instead:

🔺 Use your network before you cold-email.  
Do the diligence on your contact tree. Who already knows this person? Who could make a warm intro? Even a light reference - “X suggested I reach out” -instantly establishes trust and context.

🔺  Be intentional about why this person.
If you can’t clearly articulate why they are the right person to talk to, it’s probably not time to reach out yet.

🔺  Say why you’re reaching out to them.
Reference something specific: a talk they gave, a product they built, a transition they made. Specificity signals respect and real interest.

🔺  Be clear about the focus.
One thoughtful, specific question is far more inviting than “your thoughts.”

🔺  Ask for 15 minutes.
Not “a quick chat.” Not 30. Fifteen minutes feels bounded, doable, and easy to say yes to.

🔺 Name the mutual value.
Shared context, curiosity, alignment, or a perspective you’re exploring. It doesn’t have to be transactional, just honest.

🔺 Give them an easy out.
 “If now’s not a good time, no worries at all.”  Psychological safety matters more than you think.

This works because busy people make fast decisions. Clarity lowers cognitive load, and makes it easy to say yes or no quickly. Boundaries create comfort. 

And most importantly, warm context 🌴  beats cold outreach 🥶  every time. Reference a talk someone gave, even if it has nothing to do with what you're reaching out about. It shows you care enough about this one specific person to do your homework.

Hope that's helpful.

Happy networking! 

#network #coldoutreach #brainpickers #nevereatalone

Best way to start my day! New friends, old friends, and just good old fashioned community building. Huge thanks to Stephanie Roulic and Ben Maitland-Lewis for bringing allllll the ladies together at SVB! 

Great seeing and meeting Bobbie Carlton Lindsey Whiteley Alison Campbell Samanda J.V. Jean Carla E. Small Jill Palese 👯‍♀️

I've been approached by 2 distinctly different groups of people over the last week about how to be selected for a TEDx talk. Here's what they asked:

Group 1:
How do I network my way to a TEDx?

Group 2:
I have a story I want to share. Will you help me tell it?

Sadly for group 1, you cannot network your way to a TEDx.

Happily for group 2, I love helping people get clear on what they want to share, why it's valuable, and who needs to hear it now. 

I needed a nice hard push from a friend to decide to submit my story a year ago. And going through this process has had a transformative effect on me.

At the end of the day, I want to help highlight the lives of people who are quietly doing incredible things for their community...

or who've shown extreme bravery in the face of consequences...

or who have failed and fallen and gotten up again.

Knowledge is quickly becoming a commodity.

Lived experience has never been a more important asset on the stage or in the workplace. 

If you've been sitting on a story, now is the time to tell it.

#tedx #storytelling

Looking for some input! I’m working on a keynote for the launch of Williams College’s entrepreneurship program, Ephstart. When I was there over 20 years ago, I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur…and honestly, most liberal arts students still don’t.

Enter 2026: the golden age of building with nothing more than command of the English language. 🌈 

I’d love your input. Non-technical friends, what’s the one thing that you’d need to hear that in fact, you too can build and thrive in the new world? 

Some themes I’m exploring:

A. Storytelling as a critical skill 
B. Empathy as a leadership advantage
C. Why social capital may be the most valuable long-term capital 
D. How command of language = command of your company  
E. Leading through change when there is no stable playbook

Whaddaya think? 

(Pic: graduation day from Williams in the early aughts.)

#keynote #speaker #entrepreneurship #goephs #ai

Did you know our social lives are a leading indicator of US economics?

Last night I had the great honor or hearing Robert Putnam, author Bowling Alone and subject of Join or Die Film, share 150 years worth of data on the interplay of democracy, economics, social connection, and a cultural "we" mindset.

When you look at American life across these four very different dimensions, they all trace the same arc.

High dysfunction in the late 1800s.

A long climb toward health and cooperation through the mid-20th century.

Then, a steady decline.

What matters to me isn’t the dip. It’s the peak, because it tells us something important: this isn’t theoretical. We’ve lived through a version of cohesion and community-first before.

The country didn’t get there by accident. It wasn’t because people agreed on everything. And it didn’t start in Washington.

It started locally AND socially.

And it started with a shift in how people saw one another... from “me” to “we.”
I don’t think our current moment is about one election, one leader, or one policy. That's the symptom.

It turns out, connection erodes before institutions do. We should pay attention to this.

Culture actually shifts before outcomes show up in the data. The chart isn’t a warning as much as it is a reminder: direction can change.

But it's up to us to change it. To start being more intentional about how, where, with who, and how often we connect.

And I like this because we can control what happens next. I'm going to show up a little differently in 2026. Will you?

Stephen J. Coté Doug Levine Elizabeth Wuerz  

#socialhealth #startlocal #communityfirst

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The Battle

Francis Rogers

Karen Kelly 🌈

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The Battle

Francis Rogers

Karen Kelly 🌈

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Karen Kelly 🌈's LinkedIn Performance

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