Karuna Thomas

Karuna has worked with teams from around the world, including the six continents, and strongly believes that global organizations with international footprint have been tapping into diversity and inclusion for decades, but the key is recognizing and advancing it locally and bridging the gap within our own four walls which is the critical work at hand.

Through a successful career in the foodservice and restaurant industry Karuna grew a diverse portfolio of specializations in Supply Chain, International Franchising and Business, Training and Development, Distribution, Warehousing, and Logistics

Her nearly decade long stint in the International arena, led to her organic induction into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She launched and developed sustainable supply chain models to scale in 30+ countries, working across boundaries, breaking down barriers while working with diverse stakeholders from around the world, in turn furthering the brand’s growth and profitability. Hence recognizes the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion on an organization’s bottom-line firsthand and has been actively championing DEI initiatives since 2017.

Now as a DEI Consultant, and Leadership Coach, she takes her international exposure and experience in advancing Cultural Competency and Cultural Intelligence within organizations. She also taps into her training and facilitator experience and hosts workshops on various global platforms on topics ranging from women empowerment, mentorship, DEI initiatives, and social impact.

Karuna is part of Google’s #IamRemarkable global initiative and as a Certified Facilitator empowers women and underrepresented groups to speak openly about their accomplishments in the workplace and beyond, thereby breaking modesty norms and glass ceilings. She is also on the Lean In North Dallas Network leadership team, the initiative founded by Sheryl Sandberg COO of Facebook. She furthers the foundation’s mission to help women achieve their ambitions and work to create an equal world and conducts workshops in 50 ways to Fight Bias, Growing Circles and support network and Allyship.

Karuna serves as an executive and leadership coach at Torch and focuses on mapping career strategies and leadership development for Emerging leaders and Women executives. Karuna is a serial community builder who champions organizations and community leaders in creating impactful moments, causes and experiences.

As a dedicated mentor with American Corporate Partners (ACP), Karuna serves the veteran community, by equipping transitioning-service members advance their career goals in the corporate world. She supports Adera Foundation in transforming the lives of the poor in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by furthering their three core values -economics, education, and eternity. She is also active within her own community of Collin County and has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer since 2018 advocating for the best interest of children in the foster care system.

Karuna was born and raised in India and moved to the US in 2000 and currently currently she and her husband along with their two English Springer Spaniels call McKinney, TX home.

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