Karen Valencic
Founder, Spiral Impact
Chaos → Calm → Mastery
Chaos → Calm → Mastery
In a world churning with continual change, the one constant is YOU.
As the years pass—through my losses, gains, insights, mistakes, and joys—I've learned no matter where life takes you, “there you are.”
Relationships can power our best performance, yet they're fragile.
That’s why investing in yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential.
The Opportunity:
The Opportunity:
Lead with Power and Grace
Join the Spiral Impact Leader's Leadership Belt Journey.
A small group path to mastery
Knowing—and applying—the difference between power and force unlocks leader's true power naturally. Most leaders miss this entirely, confusing force for strength, which breeds resistance instead of wholehearted engagement.
Spiral Impact's Lead with Power and Grace provides you with tools and support to shift to true power, creating fluid momentum where people commit and deliver.
When power intertwines with grace, extraordinary transformation becomes possible. Learn to lead with both strength and compassion and elevate individuals, teams, and organizations.
This isn't reserved for an elite few, it's a skill anyone can master!
Topics include:
- Transform division into collaboration & innovation
- Cope with uncertainty; adapt to change
- Bring out the best ideas and performance in yourself and others
- Gain confidence; remove hesitation
- Transform division into collaboration & innovation
- Cope with uncertainty; adapt to change
- Bring out the best ideas and performance in yourself and others
- Gain confidence; remove hesitation
- Foster critical thinking in all levels of your organization
- Master conflict; reclaim your energy
- Provide deliberate feedback with respect
-
Transform fear into courage for problem solving
- Foster critical thinking in all levels of your organization
- Master conflict; reclaim your energy
- Provide deliberate feedback with compassion and respect
-
Transform fear into courage for problem solving
Begin your "Lead with Power and Grace" Journey
Begin your "Lead with Power and Grace" Journey
Begin/Blue Belt
Combination of individual coaching, virtual instruction, and in-person integration, tailored to cadre members' specific desires.
Deepen/Purple Belt
Building on the Blue Belt these sessions deepen your integration of the above skills.
Blue Belt is required.
Master/Black Belt
Begin/Blue Belt
Deepen/Purple Belt
Master/Black Belt
Combination of individual coaching, virtual instruction, and in-person integration, tailored to cadre members' specific desires.
Building on the Blue Belt these sessions deepen your integration of the above skills.
Blue Belt is required.
This Mastery Level coaching is customized with the potential of developing facilitators or others interested in and is by invitation only.
This Mastery Level coaching is customized with the potential of developing facilitators or others interested in and is by invitation only.
Join a Complimentary Informational Zoom
Join the First Cadre—Earn Legacy Status in Our Inaugural Leadership Belt Certification
Begin Prep NOW, for In-person Session Friday, April 24, 2026
Join the First Cadre—Earn Legacy Status in Our Inaugural Leadership Belt Certification
Begin Prep NOW, For In-person Session April 1, 2026
Karen Valencic is a best-selling author and founder of Spiral Impact, a company dedicated to transforming leadership and team dynamics. With a unique approach that blends principles of martial arts and physics, Karen delivers unforgettable sessions that entertain as well as they inform.
Drawing from three decades of experience in developing high-performing teams, Karen's content is both practical and innovative. Her engineering background provides a solid foundation for problem-solving, while her 30-year journey in the martial art, Aikido, infuses her presentations with artistic flair and ancient wisdom.
Karen's best-selling book, "The Black Belt Edition of Spiral Impact: The Power to Get It Done with Grace," has garnered acclaim for its fresh perspective on leadership. Her methods have been independently validated to significantly enhance team performance, making her a sought-after expert for diverse audiences nationwide.
As a respected thought leader, Karen has served as adjunct faculty at prestigious institutions including: The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, Butler University, IU Health, and Roche Diagnostics. Her commitment to professional development is further exemplified by her six-year tenure on the CIASTD (CIATD) board and three years with the HealthCare BusinessWomen Association, where she spearheaded the creation of their mentoring program. Currently, she serves on the board of the Conscious Capitalism Indianapolis Chapter.
Karen's unique blend of technical expertise, martial arts mastery, and leadership insight, positions her as a transformative force in personal and organizational development.
On a personal note, Karen is the mom of two fantastic daughters! She was a Girl Scout Troop leader for 12 years. She also trained as a hospice volunteer. More recently she has served on the Holliday Park Foundation Board. She loves the outdoors, cooking, and staying active. She also continues to teach and study aikido.
- Why a belt progression?
The content draws from aikido principles, creating a clear path from beginner (Blue Belt: intellectual understanding + practice) to intermediate (Purple Belt: concepts become second nature) to mastery (Black Belt: you exemplify the material). Experience builds deeper application. - What makes this cadre ‘legacy’?
This is the inaugural group. While content is proven. The structure is new. Your input refines it for future cadres, giving you pioneer status and insider influence. - What’s the orientation session?
It's a guided walkthrough to answer your questions, prep your first 1:1 coaching, and let me customize the in-person session for our group's unique needs. Full refund available right after if it's not the right fit. - How many will attend?
6-12 participants—small enough for personalized attention, large enough for rich group dynamics. - Who are the participants?
Formal and informal leaders from diverse industries. The richness comes from cross-pollination—you'll gain transformative insights from others' perspectives, just as past attendees have. - What if last-minute changes mean I can’t attend the grou session?
No problem—you can join the next Blue Belt cadre at no extra cost. Your spot rolls over, so you won’t miss out on the legacy experience. - Do I have to do martial arts or physical falls?
No martial arts required—we incorporate light movement only to embody the principles. Zero falling, fully accessible for all fitness levels.
What a few past clients say:
Karen and Spiral Impact helped us learn to make our conflicts creative and keep things moving even when differences arise.
She is a support for a higher level of operating as a team.”
Puja Parson,
CEO Growing Spaces LLC
“I loved the ways Karen challenged my assumptions. I learned that within assumptions lies a prison that keeps me focused on what I assume to be right without allowing a more fluid approach to consider other possibilities. I’m grateful for our year-long engagement. Her coaching was transforming.”
William T.
Chaplain Director, Indiana University Health
Karen and Spiral Impact helped us learn to make our conflicts creative and keep things moving even when differences arise. She is a support for a higher level of operating as a team.”
Puja Parson,
CEO Growing Spaces LLC
Karen has been instrumental in providing coaching/consulting in our leadership and focus to the teams to help them overcome conflict and re-engage in the purpose of their work.”
D. Iseminger,
Director of Leadership Development
IU Health
Eloquently simple tools that remove resistance to the ongoing journey of change. Every leader and team
would benefit having these tools in their belt.”
Eloquently simple tools that remove resistance to the ongoing journey of change. Every leader and team
would benefit having these tools in their belt.”
Alleshia Hewitt, Senior Director, Hendricks Regional Health
Alleshia Hewitt, Senior Director, Hendricks Regional Health
“I loved the ways Karen challenged my assumptions. I learned that within assumptions lies a prison that keeps me focused on what I assume to be right without allowing a more fluid approach to consider other possibilities. I’m grateful for our year-long engagement. Her coaching was transforming.”
Karen provided a number of tools and techniques for how to manage competing priorities within the workplace, creating alignment while remaining calm and balanced. Thank you, Karen and Spiral Impact for these practical and powerful tools.”
William T.
Chaplain Director, Indiana University Health
Karen provided a number of tools and techniques for how to manage competing priorities within the workplace, creating alignment while remaining calm and balanced. Thank you, Karen and Spiral Impact for these practical and powerful tools.”
Bob R.
Director, Delta Faucet
Bob R.
Director, Delta Faucet
Karen has been instrumental in providing coaching and consulting for our leadership and focus to the teams to help them overcome conflict and re-engage in the purpose of their work.”
D. Iseminger, Director of Leadership Development IU Health
The Spiral Impact virtual training was one of the best that I have attended to date. The design of the program allowed me time to practice my skills each week and receive personal attention from Karen to keep working on my problem areas. It was extremely helpful and I would recommend it to everyone.”
The Spiral Impact virtual training was one of the best that I have attended to date. The design of the program allowed me time to practice my skills each week and receive personal attention from Karen to keep working on my problem areas. It was extremely helpful and I would recommend it to everyone.”
Jennifer F.
Nurse Executive, Western State Hospital
Jennifer F.
Nurse Executive, Western State Hospital