Karen Wonders
Founder & President
LALUZ Consulting Inc.
What does your job or volunteer work consist of?
I am the President of LALUZ Consulting, where I work as an executive leadership coach. I spent over twenty years building technical solutions, and now I help engineers lead and find a seat at the leadership table. I partner with engineers who are ready to evolve from subject matter experts to transformational leaders, focusing on emotional intelligence, communication, influence, and authentic leadership. I also work with entrepreneurs to bring strategic clarity to their businesses.
As a volunteer, I mentor young engineers through Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) at the University of Toronto. I volunteer for the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and host workshops through the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
How do you apply engineering knowledge and principles to your job or volunteer work?
Engineering has taught me the value of structured thinking in unstructured situations. Leadership is messy and human, but having a framework to work within makes it less overwhelming for my clients. I bring methodology to something that can feel abstract. And the discipline of continuous improvement, which every engineer knows well, is at the heart of how I coach and how I build my own business. We measure progress, we adjust, and we keep iterating until the approach works in the real world, not just in theory.
Why are you an OSPE member/why do you think the work OSPE does is important?
Engineers shape the infrastructure, systems, and technology that Ontario depends on, yet the profession often lacks a strong enough voice in the rooms where policy decisions are made. I joined OSPE because I believe engineers should be at those tables, contributing the technical perspectives that leaders need to make better decisions.
When different perspectives are present, we collaborate better, challenge assumptions, and ultimately get more done. OSPE’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, including their initiative to advance flexible work for women and caregivers in STEM, puts that belief into action.
What issues in the profession are most important to you?
Engineering programs produce excellent problem solvers, but very few engineers receive any formal leadership training. I believe emotional intelligence deserves to be treated as a core professional skill for engineers. The ability to listen, build trust, manage conflict, and communicate with influence is what separates a strong technical contributor from someone who can lead a team, a project, or an organization.
Another issue I care about is access. Not every engineer has the same networks, mentors, or visibility to grow into leadership opportunities. I want to see that change, and it is one of the reasons I mentor, volunteer, and coach.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Forge your own path instead of trying to walk in someone else’s footsteps.
Early in my career I read many biographies and leadership books from prominent figures and tried to emulate them. It was exhausting because it was not me. I was like someone trying to step into another person’s tracks after a snowstorm, their stride was longer, their pace was different, and I was so focused on matching their steps that I never looked up to see where I was actually going.
I felt a shift in my life when I stopped emulating and started adapting what I learned to fit who I actually am.