Karen Onderko spent the first half of her career in financial risk management and investment banking in NYC. She taught seminars on financial derivative products to international banks and treasury departments and, eventually, managed a business using interest rate options to guarantee the return of principal on 401(k) investments.

In 2008, she turned her attention toward the brain and studied neuroscience at CU Denver. Her work with Dr. Jim Grigsby researching executive functioning led her to become more interested in clinical applications to improve brain function. In 2015, she joined Integrated Listening Systems (iLs), an acoustic therapy company, as Director of Research and Education. At iLs (now owned by Unyte Health), Karen collaborated closely with the scientist Stephen Porges, Ph.D. on commercializing an auditory intervention he developed, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), making it available to occupational therapists, psychologists and trauma therapists around the world. She is a Founding Board Member of the Polyvagal Institute.

Karen is married to Bob Doherty and they have three daughters – Evan, Jane, and Camille. She has served as a trustee for the boards of the Denver Film Society, Challenge Denver, Stanley British Primary School, Colorado Academy, Aspen Brain Institute, and Polyvagal Institute.