Yale School of Management - Trish Karter '82

"I went off to Yale SOM thinking it was a career move to learn a few handy things . . . such as how to access capital. I did pick up useful concepts, but they came in a package that was much richer for its collection of people whose great intelligence, diverse perspectives, and admirable values opened new worlds to me. It was a life move. I appreciate the quality of those people more with time. They have also informed, supported, inspired, and added friendship to my travels on a journey that has been very unlike what I envisioned as a student in New Haven."

As CEO and cofounder of Dancing Deer Baking Company, Inc., Trish Karter has found a way to marry her creative, artistic, environmental, community, and business interests. The woman-run enterprise is lauded as one of the nation’s most innovative natural food companies. It has received the food industry’s equivalent of the "Oscars" many times over and many other accolades and honors.

Trish’s first business adventure was to leave her studies in Classics and Art History at Wheaton College, just a semester shy of a Bachelor’s Degree and help dig her father (and hero) out of a Chapter 11 Reorganization. He had pioneered the recycling of bottles and cans on an industrial basis and his company went on to write the book on how to reclaim that portion of the waste stream. She continued on from there to a series of business challenges which had in common the characteristic of being in relatively unexplored territory — a comfort zone for Trish.

A graduate of Wheaton College in classics and art history, she received a Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University In 1982. Years later, Trish set aside her business interests and, taking a deep breath, invested her full energies in the pursuit of her first great love; to draw and paint. Five happy and productive years in the studio and outdoors doing plein air landscape work greatly influence her choices and perspective today. An unintended turn of events led her back in to business and the formation of Dancing Deer. Trish has committed the company to continuing its leadership in the natural food, green, and social responsibility movements.

Trish has received honorary Doctorates of commercial science, humane letters and arts from Bentley College McCallum Graduate School, Wheaton College, and Pine Manor College respectively for her accomplishments as a mother, entrepreneur, activist, and artist.

Trish serves on the boards of: The Social Venture Network, a nonprofit network committed to building a just and sustainable world through business and Simmons School of Management Business Advisory Council, formed to assist the school in its mission of educating women for principled leadership. She is also a member of the NASFT Natural and Organic Council and an active committee member in a variety of philanthropic and political organizations. She is an activist for the environment and social change on many fronts.

In addition to all that serious bio stuff, Trish loves to sing and dance, race bicycles, discover the wonder of things, embrace nature, engage people in positive thinking, have fun, and be productive and creative every day.

Her two children, Eleanna and Dimitri, are her greatest joy.