Karin O'Connor is the founder of Perimeter Advisors, an advisory firm that assists owners of promising mid-market companies with planning and execution of value enhancement strategies and is also an active investor in and advisor to early- and growth-stage companies and entrepreneurs.

Since beginning her career at Continental Bank in the 1980's, Karin has invested in and advised entrepreneurs in a variety of industries that includes financial services, business services, software, technology distribution, health care, manufacturing, and consumer services. She has invested at all levels of the capital structure - from senior debt to mezzanine, venture leasing, and equity - and in companies ranging from early stage to mature. She served as an independent director on the boards of several mid-market companies, including Trust Company of Illinois and Laurus Technologies, Inc., and is currently on the advisory boards of Aaron Equipment Company, North Shore Pediatric Therapy, and LumiSource LLC.

From 2011 until 2014, Karin served as Managing Director of Hyde Park Angels, Chicago's largest angel investor network. She invested as an angel in 15 early-stage companies and served as HPA'a representative on the boards of portfolio companies FeeFighters, which was acquired by Groupon, Inc. in 2012, and Moxie Jean, which was acquired by Schoola in 2015. She is currently a Venture Partner at Serra Ventures, an early-stage investment firm headquartered in Champaign, IL, and also serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Illinois Research Park, where she provides advice, counsel and training to start-up companies and prospective technology entrepreneurs, including university faculty and students.

Karin received her BA in Finance from the University of Illinois, where she graduated magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where she was an F.C. Austin Scholar and was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma. Karin received a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter in 2007.

• Master of Business Administration, 1989, Finance and Management Strategy, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
• Bachelor of Arts, 1982, Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Clinical Assistant Professor of Innovation and Entreprenuership, Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2016-present

• Entrepreneur in Residence, Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, 2014-present
• Advisory Board Member, Aaron Equipment Company, 2011-present
• President, Perimeter Advisors, 2004-present
• Advisory Board Member, Cadent Resources, Inc, 2003-present
• Director and Investor, Moxie Jean, Inc, 2014-2015
• Member and Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels, 2009-2015
• Board Member, Neighborhood Capital Institute, 2009-2014
• Board Member, FeeFighters, 2010-2012
• Director, Laurus Technologies, 2007-2009
• Director, Trust Company of Illinois, 2004-2009
• Board Member, Anixter Center, 1999-2004
• Consultant, BMO Nesbitt Burns Equity Partners (US), 2000-2001
• Principal and Co-Founder, SBC Equity Partners, 1997-1999
• Vice President and Group Head, ABN AMRO Bank, 1996-1996
• Vice President, LINC Capital Management, 1991-1993
• Senior Consultant, Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), 1989-1990
• Second Vice President, Continental Bank, 1982-1989

Growth Strategy Practicum (STRTX-940-0)

Growth Strategy Practicum (KIEI-915-0)
While much media hype continues to focus on ‘launching’ new ventures, real value is created in actually ‘growing’ them. The Growth Strategy Practicum course is targeted at students who wish to develop their business execution skills by working on a real-life project with a growth-stage enterprise, putting their knowledge and skills to work to benefit an existing business. The course will be especially beneficial to students who aspire to: • Join a fast-growing enterprise in a senior management role • Acquire an existing business with a view toward rapid enterprise value growth • Execute growth initiatives in the context of a family-owned business Student teams will be assigned to strategically-important projects with Chicago-area companies and will work with guidance from faculty and selected mentors. Teams will meet with their clients three times (during class sessions) for collaboration, presentation, and feedback. Other class sessions will be devoted to exploration of topics relevant to running a growing business, including strategy, finance, marketing, and team building.