Katie Larsen
Katie Larsen is a Key Account Manager in the educational toy industry with nearly three years of experience in account leadership, product strategy, and cross-functional operations. In her current role, she manages and scales strategic partnerships across major retail and educational channels, serving as a central connector between product development, sales, and operations teams. She is responsible for ensuring alignment across departments and external partners to support successful product launches and sustained growth of multiple STEM-focused toy lines.
Katie’s career in the industry began after a decade spent as a stay-at-home mother raising her two sons, during which she developed a deep personal connection to early childhood development. She initially joined the company as a Product Developer after the owner recognized her unique perspective shaped by her experience with her youngest son, who was born with sensory processing disorder. Through hands-on involvement with occupational and speech therapy, she helped design an early learning product line focused on sensory development, cognitive growth, and fine and gross motor skill building. Within 10 months, her work contributed to a product line that is now produced under the National Geographic Kids brand.
Following the success of her product development work, Katie advanced into a Sales Operations Specialist role and was later promoted to Key Account Manager. In this capacity, she functions as an internal “air traffic controller,” ensuring seamless communication and coordination across inventory, operations, product development, creative, marketing, and external sales teams. Her ability to streamline processes and improve cross-departmental alignment earned her the company’s Rising Star Award, which was selected through company-wide voting. Passionate about creating engaging, screen-free learning experiences for children, she remains focused on expanding the impact of educational toys and continues to build toward long-term leadership growth within the industry.
• Arizona State University - BS, Urban Planning - Summa Cum Laude
• Rising Star Award
• Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association Board
• Southern Oregon Children's Museum Board
• Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association Board (6 years)
• Southern Oregon Children's Museum Board (nearly 3 years)
• Events and Fundraising Committee Member -
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon
• Long Term Planning Committee Member -
Ashland Parks & Rec
• Secretary Board of Directors -
THE SISKIYOU SCHOOL
• Vice President Board of Directors -
The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon
What do you attribute your success to?
I have a really strong work ethic, and I think that I never took for granted the fact that I was so lucky to get to spend 10 years home with my babies, raising them. And when I was ready for a career, I was ready to just throw everything into it. And I did. I never took that opportunity for granted, and I brought all of my dedication and commitment to my work. That determination and willingness to give everything I had is what helped me move up so quickly within the company - faster than anyone else in the building has ever advanced.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I just finished Mel Robbins' High Five Habit, and I really love that it has such strong, positive messaging, and it's a good reminder for us that when we get stuck in these negative loops, we can always find our way out. The most important thing that I realized as an adult was that when you walk into a room, especially as a female or starting out in a career or even in high school, you don't realize that everyone else in the room is just as curious as you are. I kind of live by the fake it until you make it motto, because a lot like that Mel Robbins High Five habit, you can retrain and rewire your brain and how you look at yourself. And if you just start showing up with confidence, you eventually will really feel confidence.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The most important thing that I realized as an adult was that you walk into a room, especially as a female or starting out in a career or even in high school, you don't realize that everyone else in the room is just as curious as you are. I kind of live by the fake it until you make it motto, because a lot like that Mel Robbins Hi-Five habit, you can retrain and rewire your brain and how you look at yourself. And if you just start showing up with confidence, you eventually will really feel confidence.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest opportunity in our field right now is bringing educational toys to children that are also really fun, and what it does is it gets them away from the screen, which I think is so important these days. Our goal with the early learning line was really to keep children off-screen and keep their development moving along on the right track. We're creating products that help develop sensory, cognitive, fine and gross motor skills while keeping kids engaged in hands-on play instead of screen time. That's where I see the most meaningful impact we can make - creating products that are both educational and entertaining while addressing the screen time challenge that so many families face today.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Making a meaningful difference, especially in children's lives, is incredibly important to me. I want to continue helping this company grow, and if I didn't stay at this company, I would find somewhere else to be that I felt like was making a difference. I especially love to make a difference in children's lives - that's why I sit on the Children's Museum Board as well and why I'm so passionate about creating educational toys that keep kids engaged in hands-on learning instead of screens. I also deeply value the time I spend with my kids and creating connectivity time together, whether we're hiking, paddleboarding, or just enjoying the beautiful lakes and trails around us. Family time and meaningful work that impacts children are at the core of what matters most to me.