Kirsten Penaloza

She is a dedicated customer experience and strategic consulting leader with over a decade of experience in client services, operations, and organizational development, currently serving as a Founding Member of OpenWater Group, a trusted community for seasoned professionals reimagining success through shared wisdom and meaningful connections. She is also a Strategic Partner at Cloud Tech Gurus, helping organizations source and implement best-in-class solutions across CX, AI, and HR. Prior to these roles, she served as VP of Client Experience and Senior Director of Customer Experience at Scale to Win, and spent over three years at CareerPlug in progressively senior roles, including Director of Client Experience and Manager of Client Experience. She also served as Deputy Director for Donor Support at ActBlue. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Mesoamerican Studies from the University of Hamburg and a Diploma as a Certified Tour Guide from Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia. She is recognized as a strategic, people-centered, and results-driven leader who combines deep client experience expertise with a commitment to building meaningful connections and driving operational excellence.