About me

I'm Karen Schmikl, a B2B SaaS executive with 25 years of experience building, running, and transforming software businesses.

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My career has never fitted neatly into one function. I started on the frontline of a payroll software company implementing, supporting, training, solving real customer problems. I moved into product development, then compliance and legislation, then running an entire online business unit with full P&L responsibility. I launched the first SaaS payroll and employee management product for Sage SA, took it to profitability within three years, and sat on Sage's Global Product Design Council. 16.5 of my 25 years have been in HR tech, across payroll, talent acquisition, compliance, and workforce software, on multiple continents.

 

After Sage, I co-founded a payroll software start-up, with full founder accountability across product, commercial, and operations. The company was subsequently sold; I retain a shareholding today.

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I then moved into the world of logistics technology, leading post-merger product portfolio integration at Alpega Group, where two acquired companies' product portfolios needed to be rationalised into a single coherent commercial proposition. At MIXMOVE, as Chief Product and Marketing Officer, I held a broad operational mandate and when the CEO role became vacant, I held interim CEO responsibilities for seven months, keeping the business running, the team aligned, and the commercial momentum intact through direct engagement with board and investors.

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Since 2025, I work as a Fractional CPO/COO and strategic advisor, partnering with B2B SaaS companies, investors, and leadership teams at growth inflection points.

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What I do goes beyond product management. I work at the intersection of product strategy, business operations, portfolio decisions, and go-to-market, helping companies think clearly about what to build, buy, or partner for, and how to structure the business to execute at the next level.

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If you're looking for someone who has run the business, not just the product function, I'd be glad to talk.

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Based in Austria. Working across Europe and globally.