Profiles
KAREN RUSSO – PRESIDENT
A fourth generation female entrepreneur, Karen Russo has built an incredible 28 year career in executive search and human resources by challenging the norm, taking smart risks and really understanding what drives people and teams. Recognized for being a best employer by the Working Women’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards, Karen has conducted search in most major industries and some of the nation’s leading Fortune 500 companies through her firm K. Russo Consulting Inc.
Knowing that a critical part of the process in search is identifying the talent pool, Karen launched Mexico-based IIPE International Executive Research, a global name generation and customized research service. IIPE uses a proprietary search methodology relying on boolean logic, custom search engines and traditional cold calling to source high quality, targeted candidate lists. With IIPE, Karen can offer her clients a choice between a hands-on search or 100{42e52be25fbad846fadbdde1993af91b936201d518d3cf267b17ba5cb145a241} validated list generation. Recognizing the value and innovation that IIPE provides, search firms and corporate recruiting teams began to hire us to do their research and name generation. With a growing portfolio of clients, IIPE is the engine that supplies talent across industries. In 2014, the AESC (Association of Executive Search Consultants) named IIPE a strategic alliance partner.
A recognized authority in her field, Karen is frequently quoted in the media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Business Week. Karen was also a finalist in the Enterprising Women of the Year Award. Karen is an AIRS Certified Diversity Recruiter. Since 2001, she has been part of The Pinnacle Society, the nation’s premier consortium of top recruiters with membership limited to 75 people nationally and now serves on its membership committee. Her memberships include IACPR (The International Association of Corporate and Professional Recruiters), NAPS (National Association of Personnel Services) and SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management). Karen earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Pace University. Karen is fluent in English and Spanish.
Karen lives her version of the dream, splitting her time between her home in Mexico and businesses in Mexico and Connecticut. She is an avid salsa dancer and a triathlete. She also volunteers for Hope for Ek Balam, a cause dedicated to a small village in the Yucatan, buying supplies, medicines and supporting families there. As a former NFTE (Network For Teaching Kids Entrepreneurship) volunteer, she is now helping her 22 year-old son start his own business and continue the family tradition of entrepreneurism. Whether on the dance floor, on a bike or in her office, she’s likely to inspire you and make you want to seek your best self.
SWAN LOPEZ – MANAGER, CLIENT STRATEGY AND QUALITY
Swan Lopez, IIPE’s Manager of Client Strategy and Quality leads with a detailed eye on performance metrics. As a project manager for our search clients, Swan has oversight of quality assurance, responsible for analyzing team performance and project timeliness as well as ensuring customer satisfaction. Swan drives for continual process improvement, focusing on best practices and working to implement methods that bringing new ideas to the company with a fresh focus based on his experience.
He is a graduate from Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua with a degree in business administration. His past experience allowed him to develop a strong leadership managing several teams and lead them to achieve their objectives successfully through motivation and work team. As a Business Unit Manager of Servifon (a service provider for Telcel, Mexico’s largest communication company), he and his team accomplished one of the highest records in contract renewal. Swan is fluent in Spanish and English.
Swan loves playing guitar, listening to music and has a passion for learning new things, especially, technologies and programming.