Karen Jacobsen, the Australian voice of the Siri application on millions of devices worldwide, has motivated Limestone Dental Group staff to navigate change in their lives to achieve great results.

“In my ‘Recalculating Change’ seminar, such as in Ipswich, I aim to help people navigate change in their lives to deal with things that do not go as planned,” Karen said.

“In the program, there’s a five-step process in how to do that. My message is to be able to be our best, do our best, deliver at our best, look and feel our best, and be our best in life.”

Karen helps organisations and people cope with transition in what she calls ‘the age of digital disruption and corporate disruption’.

“People need to have the skills to cope with change, to be adaptable, and basically improve their strategies to be better at it.”

Karen says that the number one challenge facing women in the workplace is lack of confidence.

“They are capable, they are brilliant, practical and have so much to offer, but I think culturally we aren’t necessarily raising girls to believe that they can do everything that a man can do.

“All I can do is to share my experience, overcoming chronic anxiety, and building my own confidence. Last night I sang at the State of Origin in front of 50,000 people, and I felt amazing about it, but there was a time when performing in front of people would have really freaked me out.

“If we can take charge of our own lives then we can also take charge in our work lives.”
Karen recognises both the value and the negative power of social media on women and her advice is to not react quickly.

“I think the delete button is one of my favourite things about social media, and recognising that degrading comments are not really about me, it’s where the author is at,” Karen said.

Now a renowned, New York-based entertainer, singer, motivational speaker, voice-over artist and songwriter, Karen was born in Mackay Queensland, and was writing songs at age of seven.

Karen was inspired to be a singer through her idol Olivia Newton-John, whom she saw on television.

“I told everyone I would be a professional singer and I would live in New York,” Karen said.

“You know what they said in Mackay? Who do you think you are.” And the rest is history
Limestone Dental Group’s Dr Peter Lupton said that Karen’s workshop was part of an in-house program aimed at increasing the confidence levels of staff.

“It’s led to better communication skills, and in our environment – no one likes coming to the dentist – our treatments are expensive so it important that we can communicate honestly and clearly about things,” Dr Lupton said.