Aug 19, 2015
Karen Keppler - Intro by Ernie Shewchuk
Aboriginal Business Development in Manitoba

 Karen Keppler is the Executive Director of the Virtual Business Innovation Centre (VBIC) which mentors businesses owned by Aboriginal people. Karen has assisted over 500 business start-ups since 1991. For the past 8 years, Karen has taught business topics to students at the University of Winnipeg in the Department of Business and now the Master of Development Practice program.  As an experienced online instructor in Strategy at the University of Manitoba, Karen is comfortable in classrooms, both actual and virtual. Karen also teaches courses at MITT in International Business including Global Business, International Marketing, Entry Strategies and Trade Management.

As a business and social enterprise owner, Karen has run successful operations since 1977.  These include a retail flower shop, a retail clothing shop, an art gallery, a consulting firm, a learning centre and an e-waste recycler.

Education includes an undergraduate degree from the University of Winnipeg, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Manitoba.  Karen is currently working on a PhD in Management Education.