Lunch Connection meeting, Speaker: The Leap Beyond a Corporate Career

Title: The Leap Beyond a Corporate Career
Description: Explore the pivotal moments that led each panelist to leave corporate life, the challenges they overcame, and the exciting paths they're pursuing now.

Susan De Klerk 

After more than 20 years building a career in corporate technology, I returned to school and earned a Master of Liberal Arts from Stanford in 2025. I am currently pursuing a certificate in Higher Education at San José State University, with the goal of pivoting from high tech into education and admissions counseling.

Although graduate school helped me grow, it also left me questioning and redefining my goals while juggling evolving roles as a mother, wife, sister, friend, dog walker, empty nester, student and proud member of the Polka Dot sisterhood. Throughout this post-corporate transition, I've discovered that reinvention isn't a straight path—it's a series of detours, unexpected turns, and learning to become comfortable with not having all the answers.

 Bahar Tolu

Bahar, AKA Payroll Goddess, has a mission to create peace of mind and build enduring relationships by simplifying and streamlining her clients’ payroll process while they spend more time running their own business. She is committed to the principles of service, integrity and professionalism while providing her clients the highest quality of service with the goal of exceeding their expectations.

She has a B.A. in Business Administration and a Masters in e-Business Management and has worked as an Executive manager with primary focuses in operations, finance and HR for the past 30 years and is committed to employing the business acumen and know-how she has accumulated over the years and becoming a reliable partner to all her clients by providing them prompt and accurate payroll and related services, no matter how large or small of a business they run.

 After raising awareness for breast cancer and completing 12 Avon Breast Cancer walks raising $25,000 in funds, she has co-founded Walk Strong Bay Area Inc., a non-profit company raising money and awareness to support breast cancer programs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Her group has raised over $285,000 in the past 8 years.

 She is a proud grandma to 2 beautiful girls, 9 and 7.

 Karen S. Wright

Karen recently retired from her SVP Finance position after five years at Structure Therapeutics. With more than 40 years of financial expertise, Karen led and built strong financial functions of domestic and international privately held and public Biotech companies as they evolved from discovery and development to the commercial stage.

Prior to joining Structure Therapeutics Ms. Wright served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Jaguar Health, Inc. and held Vice President Finance, Controller positions at Veracyte, Inc., VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Intermune, Inc., Cytokinetics Inc., and Elan Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Wright participated and was instrumental in the successful Initial Public Offerings of Veracyte, Inc., Cytokinetics, Inc., Via Pharmaceuticals, and Structure Therapeutics.

 Earlier in her career, Ms. Wright spent 13 years at Genentech, Inc., building a solid foundation in the Biotech industry, focusing on Research and Development, Clinical, and Marketing and Sales financial leadership.

Ms. Wright holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Marketing from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and has her CPA (Inactive).

Post-retirement from the Biotech Industry, Ms. Wright is now the Founder and CEO of The Broadway Sonoma Farmhouse in Sonoma, California, enjoying life to its full extent, entertaining family, friends, and clients!

 Karen McNenny

Karen is a business consultant and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in finance, operations and business strategy.  Throughout her corporate career, she held senior leadership positions in high tech, partnering with executive teams to drive growth, improve operational performance and lead large-scale business transformation initiatives.

Today, Karen applies that same strategic mindset to helping organizations and entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses through operational improvements, customer experience, merchandising, and strategic planning.  She also owns a successful cabi styling business, where she helps women build confidence through personal style while creating meaningful client experiences.  

 Karen is known for her collaborative approach, thoughtful leadership, and ability to identify opportunities that deliver practical, lasting results.  She enjoys partnering with businesses that are looking to grow, innovate, and better serve their customers.

 Important meeting information:

• Please register by August 3 at 3:00 PM, as we are unable to accommodate walk-ins.
• If you need to cancel, kindly do so by August 3 at 3:00 PM. Late cancellations and no-shows will be responsible for reimbursing the lunch cost.
• Please cash or a check payable to Divino. No credit cards, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle
• Lunch is $38 per person and includes family style appetizers, an entrée, and soft and hot beverages.