Karen Staley -- A Conversation with Karen

What should OWASP members expect from the foundation’s executive leadership, and how can a global nonprofit remain connected to its volunteer community? Karen Staley joins Chris and Robert during AppSec Europe to discuss her early experience as OWASP’s executive director. She explains how her nonprofit background prepared her for a passionate technical community, how members and chapter leaders interact with the foundation, and why conferences, membership, and diverse participation matter to OWASP’s future. The conversation also explores fundraising, strategic priorities, and the challenge of supporting local chapters while preserving an open organization. Karen closes with a call for greater community engagement and partnership.

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Connect with Karen Staley and OWASP:
→ OWASP Foundation

Mentioned in this episode:
→ OWASP Foundation
→ OWASP Chapters

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Chapters:
00:00 A conversation with OWASP leadership
01:08 Karen Staley’s nonprofit background
02:16 Joining OWASP as executive director
05:26 How members connect with the foundation
08:52 Conferences, developers, and broader participation
10:26 Membership and supporting local chapters
12:23 Strategic priorities for OWASP
15:27 Building stronger community engagement
16:20 Closing thoughts