A career in human relations and business development with major corporations including Target and Land O’Lakes prepared Karen Grabow for the complexities of board service. A desire to improve the lives of Minnesotans prompted her to join the board of Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services, where she’s served for 13 years. With a PhD in industrial/organizational counseling psychology and deep knowledge in executive coaching and leadership development, Grabow chaired the 2015 search committee that hired Fairview president and CEO James Hereford. As chair of the Fairview board’s people strategy committee, she guided the organization through a global pandemic and an unprecedented labor market. “Karen’s ability to connect dots across business, academic and community organizations, and leaders enables all boats to rise and thrive across the Twin Cities,” says Mary Nease, executive vice president and chief people officer at Fairview.