Karen C.

Communications Director, Editor, Copywriter, & Communications Strategist with 14+ years of experience in content creation,

Beilstein, Germany

Experience

Feb 2025 - Present
7 months

Marketing and Communications (Part Time)

repath

  • Currently leads the content marketing strategy for repath, a fast-growing climate tech company, reporting directly to the CEO.
  • Responsibilities include building and implementing full-funnel content strategies aligned with business goals, including lead generation, customer education, and thought leadership.
  • Creates high-performing content across blogs, newsletters, case studies, social media, executive LinkedIn profiles, email campaigns, and investor materials
  • Provide strategic guidance and counsel on internal and external communications, marketing and employer branding.
Nov 2020 - Jan 2025
4 years 3 months

Communications Director (Contract)

Rosberg X Racing

  • Led global communications, PR strategy, and digital/social media for Nico Rosberg’s two-time world championship-winning Extreme E racing team, Rosberg X Racing.
  • Wrote trending thought leadership pieces for Nico Rosberg that appeared in top-tier media publications and garnered global media attention.
  • Wrote scripts for long-form and short-form videos featuring our drivers, Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson, Nico Rosberg, and other leading scientists, celebrities, thought leaders and influencers.
  • Wrote scientific articles and worked with leading scientists to publish research about climate change and its effects, among other topics.
  • Acted as a team spokesperson, speaking at numerous partner and industry events about equality in motorsport, sport as a catalyst for change, and sustainability.
  • Managed all press releases, media briefings, crisis communications, copywriting, magazine/TV/radio interviews, social media, and sponsor relationships.
  • Hosted international media press conferences, securing coverage from publications such as Forbes, BBC, Sky Sports, Sports Illustrated, and The Times.
  • On average per season, the team achieved an average media reach of 4.97 billion, saw 5,370+ articles published and had a social media reach of 24.31m (aggregated across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook)
  • Developed and led the award-winning #drivenbypurpose sustainability campaign, securing multiple prestigious accolades, including the 2023 sustainability award at the Sport Bild Motorsport Awards, Nico Rosberg's recognition as Life Terra's "most impactful sustainability entrepreneur" in 2022, as well as the European Culture Award for the Environment, highlighting Nico and RXR's leadership in sustainable motorsport.
Feb 2020 - Present
5 years 7 months

Freelance Communications Consultant

Since my role with Rosberg X Racing was on contract, I also managed several high-profile clients across corporate communications, copywriting, social media, communications and brand strategy, and thought leadership.

  • EIT InnoEnergy (Co-founded by the European Union): Wrote and edited industry white papers and reports. Developed thought leadership articles, blog content, website copy, and internal communications. Conducted interviews with key industry figures and managed communications at the flagship event: The Business Booster. Created 360-degree communications and marketing strategies for select portfolio companies.
  • Nico Rosberg: I’ve led all LinkedIn content and thought leadership for the Formula One World Champion, Sustainability Entrepreneur, and Angel Investor, collaborating with organisations such as Oxford University, Formula One, Silverstone, Climeworks, Mercedes, EnBW, Jungheinrich, Greentech Festival, and more. Increased LinkedIn impressions by 9,400%, reaching over 26 million impressions in 2024. I also wrote and produced content that trended on average 27 times per year, achieving “Top Voice” status on LinkedIn and regularly being featured by LinkedIn News.
  • Africa Practice: Provided copywriting and editing services for clients such as eMobilis and the NBA.
  • Carbon Centrum: Created B2B and B2C communication strategies, website copy, social media content calendars, investor pitch materials, and sustainability messaging for this cleantech company.
  • The Liberty Vuka Knowledge Summit (featuring Russell Simmons): Led communications strategy, PR outreach, and all social and digital promotion for this global event.
  • Provident Real Estate: Developed real estate marketing content, blog articles, and lead generation campaigns.
  • Avy & Dan: Collaborated on brand storytelling, copywriting and industry blog posts.
  • International Jazz Extravaganza (IJE): Managed PR, communications strategy and social media for the international event, which trended worldwide.
Apr 2017 - Feb 2020
2 years 11 months

Communications Director and Writer (Contract)

Make It Happen, Spencer Lodge

  • Ghostwrote the Amazon #1 bestseller "Making It Happen: The Ultimate Guide to Selling" for Spencer Lodge (a prominent figure and thought leader, acknowledged as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Dubai.)
  • Developed multi-platform brand messaging, content strategy, and PR initiatives for Spencer Lodge and his online sales university.
  • Led content creation, strategic communications, and all copywriting for the online sales university.
  • Wrote weekly e-books and sales funnel content.
  • Produced motivational videos that frequently trended on social media.
May 2016 - Apr 2017
1 year

Head of Digital | PR Strategist

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

  • Led digital and social media, PR, internal marketing and communications strategy for the global public relations firm, working on clients such as P&G, Shell, Citrix, Cisco, Liberty Holdings Limited, Dark Fibre Africa, Hogan Lovells and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
  • Developed multi-platform digital campaigns, increasing client brand visibility by 70%.
  • Identified new business opportunities, led proposals, and secured strategic partnerships.
  • Managed stakeholder and government engagement strategies and projects.
  • Led media training workshops with key industry professionals and thought leaders.
Sep 2014 - May 2016
1 year 9 months

Digital Media Specialist | PR Manager | Strategist

Total Exposure

  • Managed PR, strategy, digital and social media, and communications for brands including Comedy Central, BET, MTV, BBC (BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Minute, Top Gear, BBC Entertainment, etc.), Sony Entertainment, X-Factor SA, Grey Goose Vodka, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, and Audi South Africa.
  • Wrote and distributed all online content, including press releases, profiles and thought leadership articles.
  • In charge of media strategy, digital advertising, social media and campaign management.
  • Developed audience engagement strategies to enhance brand reputation and visibility.
Jul 2012 - Sep 2014
2 years 3 months

Social Media Strategist | Accounts Executive

Famous Brands / Sauce Advertising

  • Developed and executed social media, digital marketing, and copywriting strategies for Famous Brands (Africa's largest restaurant franchisor), managing food and consumer brands such as Wimpy, Mugg & Bean, Steers, Debonairs Pizza, Fishaways, and Keg.
  • Managed advertising, website content, and social media engagement.
  • Led numerous radio and TV campaigns that also trended on social media.
Jan 2010 - Jun 2012
2 years 6 months

Journalist | News Reporter

HEAT Magazine (Media24 Group)

  • Wrote high-profile news features, interviews, beauty, and lifestyle content.
  • Managed celebrity interviews, editorial strategy, and media relations.
  • Acted as the brand ambassador, appearing in weekly TV and radio segments.

Summary

What drives me is working on projects that have the potential to change the world for the better. Nothing inspires me more than seeing bold ideas come to life, telling the stories behind them, and supporting businesses that challenge the status quo with innovative solutions.

For me, great communication strategies involve sparking conversations, making authentic connections, driving action, and creating a lasting impact.

My career has been marked by successful collaborations with top international brands such as the BBC, MTV, Formula One World Champion & Sustainability Entrepreneur Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing, Mercedes, Oxford University, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Comedy Central, Montreux Comedy Festival, SONY, Shell, Audi, EIT Inno Energy, The United Nations, GREENTECH FESTIVAL, and many more.

My campaigns have trended and gone viral hundreds of times, and my work in the sustainability space has received multiple prestigious awards.

Among my other achievements, I ghost-wrote the book "Making It Happen: The Ultimate Guide to Selling" for a client, which became a #1 best-seller on Amazon in its category within just 24 hours of publication.

If you're looking for someone to generate awareness, build credibility, and create meaningful content, then you've come to the right place.

Languages

English
Native

Education

Oct 2009 - Jun 2011

University of Pretoria

Bachelor of Arts · Journalism & Languages · Pretoria, South Africa

Oct 2008 - Jun 2009

Rhodes University

Bachelor of Journalism · Journalism · Makhanda, South Africa

Need a freelancer? Find your match in seconds.
Try FRATCH GPT
More actions