Some people plan their careers down to the detail. Others, like Karen Watts, find their way through unexpected doors that quietly open one after another.
Karen is a teacher, a coach, and a writer. But more than that, she’s a multi-passionate woman who’s made a life out of following curiosity. “I fell into teaching and entrepreneurship by accident,” she says.
After taking a break to raise her children, she returned to school intending to add a few business classes to her liberal arts background. That decision led her into a surprising and fulfilling career path that includes public speaking, workforce development, and a master’s degree in organizational management.
Today, Karen teaches as an adjunct instructor in the Workforce Development Department at Alamance Community College and also coaches aspiring entrepreneurs through the college’s Small Business Center. Whether she’s leading workshops, mentoring one-on-one, or diving into her latest piece of writing, Karen brings her whole self to the work—introversion included.
“People make me tired,” she says with a laugh, reflecting on how being an introvert has shaped her career. While she loves teaching, helping others, and even socializing (in small doses), she’s learned that protecting her energy is non-negotiable.
I learned that allowing the extroverted mainstream culture to set the rules leads to burnout.
That means scheduling buffer time, leaning into online teaching, and refusing to let the extroverted hustle culture dictate her pace. “Being an introvert means active management of your time and personal energy,” she explains. “I learned that allowing the extroverted mainstream culture to set the rules leads to burnout.”
One of Karen’s most powerful realizations came through years of teaching and coaching: everyone craves solitude, whether they admit it or not.
“Sometimes the grousing you hear about ‘being antisocial’ is jealousy,” she says. “Giving students and clients permission to take time alone can be life changing.” For Karen, solitude isn’t something to fix; it’s something to honor.
She’s already living parts of her dream life by teaching online, speaking occasionally, and writing freely. Her ideal version includes a stable part-time teaching role, quiet walks in the woods, time for writing, and the flexibility to take on freelance gigs that align with her values. “My dream life would allow me lots of time to delve into my inner world,” she says. “Because I know this makes me more interesting and helpful when I interact with others.”
Karen Watts reminds us that success sometimes looks like choosing meaningful work, protecting your peace, and giving others permission to do the same.
To learn more about Karen, find her on her LinkedIn.
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