Karen Esche Eiff, Ph.D.
About Karen Esche Eiff, Ph.D.
Karen Esche Eiff, Ph.D., is the Customer Insights Manager at Kohl's, with extensive experience in mixed-methods research and a background in academia.
Title
Karen Esche Eiff currently holds the position of Customer Insights Manager at Kohl's, a role she began in 2023. Her responsibilities involve synthesizing data from various sources to derive actionable insights that influence business decisions.
Professional Experience at Kohl's
Karen Esche Eiff has a substantial tenure at Kohl's, beginning as a Consumer Insights Analyst from 2016 to 2017. She was then promoted to Senior Customer Insights Analyst, a position she held from 2017 to 2023 before advancing to her current role as Customer Insights Manager. Her work focuses on leveraging mixed-methods research and partnering with stakeholders to anticipate and fulfill research needs.
Academic Roles
Karen has rich experience in academia. She served as an Adjunct Instructor at several institutions, including Mount Mary University (2017), North Iowa Area Community College (2011-2016), William Peace University (2011-2012), Southern New Hampshire University (2011), and University of Louisiana at Monroe (2010-2013). Additionally, she was an Associate Lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2011-2016) and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (2012-2016).
Education and Expertise
Karen holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, completed over an 11-year period from 2010 to 2021. She also earned an M.S. in Anthropology from the same institution (2006-2009), a B.A. in Anthropology from Marquette University (2004-2005), and a B.B.A. in Business Administration from St. Norbert College (2001-2004). Additionally, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management from UW-Milwaukee (2011-2012).
Research and Analytic Skills
With over 15 years of experience in mixed-methods research, Karen has demonstrated strong expertise in ethnography, interviewing, and focus group moderation. She excels in survey design and sales/panel data tracking, including NPD, IRI, and Circana. Her skills in insight storytelling and presenting are key to influencing business strategy and decisions.