Rachel Karfeld, MBA
Rachel Karfeld, MBA, is an accomplished executive with over two decades of experience spanning sales, management, and consulting. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a results-driven mindset and a proven ability to build high-performing teams while consistently exceeding client expectations. Her expertise encompasses revenue growth solutions, SaaS, CRM, management training, and business development initiatives, making her a versatile leader in scaling organizations and optimizing customer success. Rachel’s professional journey reflects her passion for cultivating meaningful relationships, mentoring teams, and fostering continuous learning. Currently, Rachel serves as the Director of Business Development at The Dawson Academy, where she spearheads strategic initiatives to drive revenue growth and expand client engagement. She has led the development of a new practice management program, aligning sales, marketing, and private equity partnerships to scale operations effectively. Her work emphasizes both the art and science of customer success, combining data-driven insights with empathetic leadership to elevate team performance and client satisfaction. Prior roles at Spear Education, NextLevel Practice, and the Levin Group further honed her skills in consulting, sales strategy, and practice management across the dental industry. Beyond her professional achievements, Rachel is recognized for her leadership style, which balances accountability with empathy. Colleagues praise her ability to anticipate client needs, solve complex challenges collaboratively, and nurture high-performing teams. With an MBA from the University of Phoenix and extensive experience in executive leadership, Rachel continues to explore opportunities in Customer Success, Consulting, or Head of Sales roles, aiming to leverage her expertise to drive impactful growth while maintaining a strong focus on team development and customer outcomes.
• University of Phoenix- M.B.A.
• University of Phoenix- M.Ed.
• Franklin Pierce University- B.A.
• Women's Lacrosse
• Law Society
• Intercollegiate Mock Trail
• Worldwide Women's Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute a great deal of my success to my mother. She was a nurse for more than 45 years and had a unique balance of toughness and empathy. She cared deeply for her patients, but she also expected a lot from herself and from those around her. Watching her navigate a demanding career while raising me—often as a single mother—taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of showing up for people when they need you.
She instilled in me the belief that hard work, accountability, and compassion can coexist, and that success is not just about personal achievement but about the impact you have on others. Those lessons have shaped how I approach both leadership and relationships in my career.
Another major influence on my drive has been my own experience as a single mother. Raising a teenage daughter while building my career has pushed me to stay focused, disciplined, and intentional with my time and goals. More than anything, I hope the work I’ve done and the path I’ve created shows her that she can achieve anything on her own—that independence, confidence, and perseverance can open doors she might not even see yet.
In many ways, my success is a reflection of the example my mother set for me and the example I hope to set for my daughter.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Someone once told me that if you see an opportunity to contribute, step into it—even if it’s not technically “your role.” That mindset taught me to take ownership, ask better questions, and continually push myself to learn.
It also helped me realize that confidence and competence are built through action, not by waiting until you feel completely ready. Many of the opportunities that shaped my career came from stepping forward before I had everything figured out.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Confidence grows through action, not perfection. Don’t wait until you feel completely ready—step forward, stay curious, and focus on the value you bring. The opportunities will follow.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The advice I would give to young women entering this industry is to trust in your ability to learn, grow, and figure things out along the way. Very few people start their careers feeling completely confident or prepared, and I think sometimes women feel like they need to have everything perfectly in place before they step forward. In reality, confidence is built through experience and through being willing to take on challenges even when you don’t have all the answers yet.
She showed me what resilience, hard work, and independence looked like every day. Watching her balance responsibility and compassion shaped how I approach both my career and leadership.
Now, being a single mother myself to a teenage daughter has given me an even deeper appreciation for that example. It motivates me every day to show her that women can build meaningful careers, lead confidently, and create their own opportunities. I hope that by watching the work I’ve done and the path I’ve taken, she sees that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to as well.
So my advice is to stay curious, ask questions, seek out mentors, and don’t be afraid to step into opportunities—even if they feel a little bigger than you’re ready for. Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and personal life are centered around creating meaningful impact. Whether I’m developing programs that help dentists grow their practices and better serve their patients, or setting an example for my daughter, I’m driven by the belief that our work should leave people better than we found them. I believe in being action-oriented, committed to continuous improvement, and holding myself accountable to the standards I set for others. For me, leadership is about raising the bar—not only in results, but in how we show up every day—and making sure the values we talk about are the ones we consistently live by.