Biography
Caren is principal of Croland Consulting, a philanthropic advisory group that guides families, celebrities, and institutions in building a culture of purpose and legacy. She supports families in defining the clarity, focus, and impact specific to their interests, and creating a pathway to achieve them. Caren is an advisor to the Ortus Foundation working on issues related to youth mental health, and advises a variety of families and institutions on investments in health, culture, and education. Recent clients have included the Deepak Chopra Foundation, and the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation. Caren served as president of Crown Family Philanthropies in Chicago, (2009-2016), and Executive Director of the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, Oprah’s Angel Network, and a member of Harpo’s Senior Leadership Team at the height of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Caren is a frequent keynote speaker at family council meetings, and wealth and estate planning conferences. Her focus is on deepening intergenerational engagement and social impact using a variety of assets and strategies. Keynotes, podcasts, and panel discussions have included Family Business Magazine’s Legacy and Wealth Conference, Yale’s Philanthropy Conference, and the Society for Trust and Estate Planners annual and regional conferences. She has been a guest on podcasts including The Heart of Giving (Better Business Bureau), Denton’s, Alliance Bernstein, and Family Business Magazine’s Legacy and Wealth Conference. She is an adjunct professor at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and at the University of Chicago Booth School in their Private Wealth Management Certificate Program and at the Spertus Institute.