Life Story Interview with Karen Chupka, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Global Connections and Events at NAB.
Karen Chupka’s Early Life: Family and Roots
– Can you share a bit about your family background? What did your parents do, and what are some early stories from your upbringing?
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Washington, DC, right after school. What you should know is that I’m a big Steelers fan. My parents were first-generation Americans. All my grandparents on both sides came to the United States from Slovakia—one set from Bratislava, the other from the Košice area. They came over to work in the steel mills in the United States. So, my dad was a steelworker. I moved out of Pittsburgh in my 20s to come to Washington, DC, because at that time, there were no jobs in Pittsburgh, but there were jobs in Washington. I started working for an association, doing registration for a breakfast they hosted, and that’s how I got started in the events business.
– Do you have any siblings?
Yeah, I have an older sister and a younger brother.
Karen Chupka, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shares how her family’s Slovak roots and her father’s steelworking background influenced her upbringing. From humble beginnings, she developed a strong work ethic that shaped her path
– Were you a dedicated student during your school years?
I was a good student, yeah. I was a bit different, though. I was always the one talking and getting in trouble for talking too much.
Choosing Work Over College: A Bold Move
– What path did you choose after finishing high school?
That’s the funny thing. I started working because I didn’t enjoy learning in a classroom setting. I wanted to get out there and learn by doing. So, I didn’t go to college; I trained as a secretary. I just didn’t like sitting in a classroom—I was bored. It’s interesting now because people understand that everyone learns differently. Back then, they didn’t. You either sat in the classroom and listened to the teacher, or that was it. So, I thought, “I don’t need to do this; I’m going to work.”
Karen discusses her decision to skip college and dive straight into the workforce. Her determination to learn by doing set her apart and paved the way for her success in the events industry
– If you had wanted to attend college, could your family have afforded it?
They would have found a way. But my mother believed college was a waste for girls since they were going to get married and never work. So, why spend the money? Ironically, I never got married, so I’ve had to work. When my dad passed away, I took care of my mother for 20 years and had to support her financially. Everything she said I didn’t need, I actually ended up needing.
– What would you say are your biggest goals in your current role?
A couple of things—first, starting to put together a single website so we can do a better job of telling our story and forming our brand identity. Also, we have so much content, and being able to repurpose it in ways that are beneficial is something we’re working on. Helping the team understand the story we need to tell is another big step. We had been working with a lot of consultants, and they were telling the stories they wanted to tell. But we need to have our own strategy and drive that vision. So, putting all that together has been one of the first steps I’ve taken over the last few months.
Rising Through the Ranks Without a College Degree
– Your story is quite unique, especially for someone in a high-level position who didn’t go the college route. Can you tell us how your career developed without that traditional educational background? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them to reach your current role?
Yeah, I mean, it was interesting. Being Eastern European and growing up in Pittsburgh, we had a very strong work ethic. So, coming to Washington, DC, and starting this job, running a small breakfast event, I worked very hard and did a good job. A position opened to handle registration for, and the HR person knew I was looking for something different. She recommended me for the job, and that’s how I started at CES —typing badges, because the internet wasn’t invented yet! I just loved the environment, because there was always room to learn. Anytime someone left, I would volunteer to take on some of their responsibilities so I could learn. And before I knew it, I had the opportunity to try everybody’s jobs and learn the industry that way. I’ve always loved technology, so it was easy for me to understand how technology was evolving.
Karen reveals how she built her career at CES by taking every opportunity to learn and grow, eventually becoming an industry leader despite her unconventional educational background
– When you joined the new organization, your new position, I assume you probably started at the bottom, the lowest of wages. How many steps, or how much time and effort, did it take to get to a point where you could live comfortably on your own means?
It took a little bit of time, and, you know, like anything else, you don’t just go out and buy a big house, right? You start small and make decisions accordingly. I think I was lucky because my boss at the time, who still runs the Consumer Technology Association, appreciated the fact that I didn’t go to college but worked hard. He always gave me the opportunity to grow more. I think I was unique too because I was very interested in learning about everything and wasn’t afraid of technology. That helped. But it probably took, you know, 15-20 years to get to a point where I was on par with others from a pay perspective.
Key Turning Points in Karen Chupka’s Career
– Which moments in your journey were the biggest turning points for you?
Some of it was in the early—well, late ’90s, I guess. Part of my job at CES at that time was trying to get keynote speakers. Everyone viewed CES as just a TV and gadget show. I worked really hard to convince Microsoft to have Bill Gates deliver the keynote that year, and he did. That started everyone talking about whether CES was now a computer show. It also led to other companies wanting to participate as keynote speakers. It attracted companies like those in the computer industry who wouldn’t have typically thought of CES as a place to keynote. That was a big changing point, as it shifted the perception of what we were doing and created more opportunities. Luckily, they had a product—it wasn’t just about convincing them—they had to have a product. But it was about explaining, “This is who we’re bringing, and this is why you’ll reach a different audience.” And they said yes. That was a big turning point.
From convincing Bill Gates to keynote at CES to partnerships with Carnival Cruise, Karen shares the pivotal moments that redefined her career and elevated CES to new heights
Another major shift was when Carnival Cruise approached us. They said, “We’d like to keynote because we’re building a new ship that’s essentially going to be a smart city.” I thought, wow, we’ve gone from me convincing people to keynote, to them trying to convince us to let them keynote. Carnival Cruise was a great partner, and it was fun to see that shift. I’ve been lucky because I’ve had the chance to see a lot of things, meet a lot of great people, and have important conversations. Sometimes, that gave me the opportunity to connect things that maybe other people weren’t in a position to hear or see.
– You achieved incredible heights in your last organization, rising to the top of the echelon. I’m curious, were you satisfied with your final days at that organization? What influenced your decision to transition?
I spent a long time there—33 years—but I still have a long time to work. And I thought, if I wait, it’s only going to get harder. We had come out of COVID, and it just seemed like the time. If I didn’t change then, I wouldn’t change at all. I felt like it was really important to make that move. I took a year off, got a puppy, and spent 10 days in Europe. I visited my favorite places—Amsterdam, Paris, and Venice. I had never been to Venice before, but I loved it so much that I went back again. The year before, I had visited a friend in Bratislava and got to see where my grandparents came from. It was really fun.
Transitioning to NAB: New Opportunities and Challenges
– Your career at your last organization was highly successful. Why did you decide to wait? Was it a calling from within, something you felt in your heart or spirit? What motivated your transition, especially considering the market was slightly declining? What inspired you to take this bold challenge and jump into this market?
I think a couple of things. First, I knew the organization was well respected, and the show was well respected. I’ve known Chris Brown for a long time, and I knew he was well respected too. But I also saw opportunity, especially with everything happening in the creator economy. There are so many people now, and even looking at who is coming to the show, everyone is using video to tell their stories and build their brands. We’re seeing people from women’s soccer, the Philadelphia Phillies, JP Morgan Chase, banks, and the New York Stock Exchange—all using these tools to help tell their stories. So, I liked the idea of being part of a show that helps people tell their stories.
Building a Vision at NAB: Goals and Strategies
– When you were approached about the job, what mission did the board set with you? What were the goals you and the board aligned on?
Yeah, the goal is to grow the show and reach new audiences. One area I saw a big opportunity in was the creator economy. We also see this more with the Las Vegas show than the New York show, but the monetization tools that are coming in now help you measure what you’re doing. They help you tag and identify the content you’re developing, how you’re developing it, and for whom. Plus, more people are watching content than ever before. So, while there are challenges in the industry, I believe disruption is often followed by a lot of positive developments.
Karen explains why she joined NAB, her vision for growth, and how the creator economy and storytelling tools are shaping the future of events
– Is the Shanghai Expo finished?
Yeah, for NAB Show, right? Yes. Right now, we’re only doing the New York show and the Las Vegas shows. Like many event companies, we were hit hard during COVID, and we all had to reduce and do things differently. When I came in, I found that the team had been struggling with a lot of fundamental things because they hadn’t been invested in, due to budget constraints. So, right now, we’re focused on getting the fundamentals in place so that we can start doing things that will help us grow. One of the first areas we’re investing in is marketing, because we need to tell our story better.
– What skills or personality traits do you think you possess that sets you apart from individuals who took the traditional route of graduating high school, going to college, and following a more structured career path? What makes you stand out in the market compared to others?
I think it’s about taking opportunities and listening to what people are talking about. I was also very lucky to have a very good memory. So, I would hear a conversation here and then another conversation over there, and I’d think, “Wait a second, these two things connect!” I’d take what I knew about one thing and connect it to the other, and it would create something really interesting. That’s one of the skill sets I have—really listening and being able to connect different conversations. Even now, I have a job where I talk to so many people and hear what they’re trying to do and why. It’s all about connecting and understanding.
Karen focuses on creating a unified brand identity, repurposing content effectively, and driving a clear vision for NAB’s events
– What are you most proud of in your career?
If I were to be honest about what I’m most proud of, it might sound kind of strange, but I think it’s taking that year off before I took this job and being comfortable knowing everything was going to work out.
Non-Work Life: A Maltipoo and Steelers Football
– Now, moving on to some non-work-related questions, how do you like to spend your free time?
When I quit my job and took a year off, I got a puppy. He’s a Maltipoo. He’s very cute…
– He’s like a teddy bear.
Exactly, yeah. So he takes up a lot of my time. We go on walks. He’s very social—he has to say hello to everyone. I’ve spent a lot of time meeting neighbors and talking to people because of him. Pittsburgh Steelers football is my other big hobby.
Outside work, Karen enjoys time with her adorable Maltipoo and following her favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers
– Who’s your favorite player on the Steelers team?
That’s a good question right now! Well, it’s got to be George Pickens, right? Or TJ Watt.
