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SCIP Affiliation

The Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) is a global nonprofit membership organization for professionals who create and manage business knowledge. Outward Insights Managing Partner Ken Sawka was a former Board Member, and served as editor of the SCIP Foundation book Starting a Competitive Intelligence Function, published in 2008. Outward Insights principals and staff are frequent guest speakers at SCIP’s international and European conferences, chapter meetings and other events.

About Us: Leadership

Outward Insights is staffed by an all-star team of intelligence and strategy professionals. Our consultants come from leading organizations in the corporate, consulting, and government communities and have the skills, tools, and counsel you need to achieve or maintain competitive advantage. No other firm can match the breadth and depth of our people's expertise.

Led by Managing Partner Ken Sawka -- one of the most widely respected names in competitive intelligence and strategy -- the Outward Insights team has over 75 years of combined expertise as hands-on consultants, corporate practitioners, and government experts. As a unique and leading-edge boutique we provide sound, road-tested strategic counsel that ensures your success.

Kenneth Sawka Managing Partner

Ken Sawka is a nationally recognized competitive intelligence, early warning system, and strategy development expert. He has had a long and acclaimed career as both an intelligence practitioner and consultant, having developed competitive intelligence programs with numerous Fortune 500 companies. An expert commentator, Ken is a published author and has been quoted extensively on competitive strategy and intelligence matters in Time, Investor's Business Daily, American Banker, and other prominent journals. He is a regular contributor to the Kiplinger.com Business Resource Center, and has appeared on CNBC's acclaimed Squawk Box.

Prior to joining Outward Insights, Ken directed pricing and competitive analysis at Deloitte Consulting and also served as a Practice Leader in Deloitte's Strategy and Operations Group, managing the delivery of services in strategy development, competitive analysis, and scenario planning. Key clients were in the telecommunications, healthcare, and financial services industries.

Earlier, Ken led the competitive intelligence consulting practices at Fuld & Company, Inc. and The Futures Group. He was also an Intelligence Analyst with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Ken is a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) and served on its Board of Directors from 1999—2002. He is also a member of the Association for Strategic Planning.

Ken holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science (cum laude) and Masters Degree in International Relations from American University. Ken is based in the Outward Insights headquarters office in Andover, MA.

Karen Rothwell, Director

Karen Rothwell works with companies to design world-class competitive intelligence programs. As Director for Outward Insights, she is responsible for competitive intelligence process consulting work. In addition, she works closely with firm management on all facets of firm operations, including client service, new business development, and creation of new service offerings. Karen brings over 10 years of experience in consulting and competitive intelligence.

As Director for Outward Insights, she is responsible for strategy gaming and planning services, competitive intelligence consulting, coaching, and training across multiple industries. In addition to her client responsibilities, Karen serves as a designated CI Coach of the Outward Insights CI Executive Coaching Center, providing advice and counsel to subscribers on the management and practice of competitive intelligence.

Prior to joining Outward Insights, Karen was Vice President of Consulting at Fuld & Company, Inc., a global competitive intelligence firm. In this role, she managed long-term engagements providing process consulting, implementation support, strategy facilitation and intelligence mentoring services. She facilitated war games and competitive intelligence training for Fortune 500 clients.

Karen also spent six years at Accenture, a leading management consulting and technology service provider. As manager, Karen oversaw client relationships, projects, and market offerings. She assisted clients with strategy development, e-commerce, systems integration, and merger & acquisition work.

Karen holds an MBA from Suffolk University. She received her BA with a major in Marketing and a minor in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is the Vice President of the Sawyer School of Management Graduate Alumni Board and is a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals. Karen is based in our Andover, MA office.