Karina Castagna is an award-winning healthcare executive and dynamic leader with nearly two decades of experience driving strategic growth, launching innovative solutions, and building high-performing teams across health tech, biotech, payer, and specialty pharmacy sectors. She has a proven track record of scaling new business segments, leading multimillion-dollar product launches, and developing transformative solutions that expand access to life-changing treatments.

As Ex Chair of the Pacific Region for the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA), Karina has spearheaded initiatives to advance gender parity in leadership, promote equitable workplace practices, and foster meaningful career and business connections for women across the healthcare industry. Her leadership has empowered countless women to accelerate their careers and unlock their full potential, aligning with HBA’s mission to achieve systemic change and drive greater representation of women in executive roles.

As Vice President of the Board of DIrectors of KidSTREAM, Karina is committed to creating the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation, equity, and impact across industries. She is passionate about inspiring our children to grow up with the courage and vision to lead and change the world, ensuring a future shaped by their limitless potential and dedication to making a difference.

Karina’s professional achievements are rooted in her personal story as a first-generation immigrant born in Mexico, and raised in California. The oldest of four children, she was the first in her family to attend college and earn an MBA—graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with her M.B.A and Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Economics and Business Administration. Her parents, a hardworking entrepreneur and a stay-at-home mom who later became an educator, instilled in her a relentless work ethic and the value of education. Programs like Upward Bound and Inroads helped her access college and career opportunities, while early mentors guided her path in leadership.

Karina’s journey—from a working-class upbringing to becoming a trailblazer in the healthcare industry—fuels her passion for breaking barriers, building opportunities, and creating a legacy of impact for future generations of leaders.