About Us

Tobba Vigfusdottir

CEO

Tobba is the Founder & CEO of Kara Connect. She holds an M.Ed in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington in Seattle and a B.Ed. from the University of Iceland; both focused on cognitive psychology. Tobba has, throughout her career, focused on the problem of access to help and support. Her experience as a local politician brought forward the systemic problems people face in getting the proper support to get better. Tobba established an online speech therapy company before establishing Kara Connect. She sits on the National Theatre board and the Science and Technology board appointed by the Minister of Innovation. Before entrepreneurship, Tobba was an elected city councillor in Reykjavík for 12 years, a political Advisor to the Minister of Education and a project manager for a women’s entrepreneurial program.

Tobin Coles

Tobin Coles is the Chief Revenue Officer at Kara Connect. With a career spanning executive roles at Vivup, The Employee Resilience Company, and Amba, Tobin brings a wealth of experience in scaling health and wellbeing solutions across Europe.

He spearheads revenue growth by forging strategic partnerships and expanding the company’s footprint in the UK and Ireland. Tobin is passionate about transforming traditional employee assistance programs into proactive, personalised support systems that address the evolving needs of today’s workforce

His leadership is characterised by a commitment to empathy, innovation, and measurable impact, aligning with Kara Connect’s mission to make preventive support accessible to all.

Kate Blessing

Head of Finance

Kate leads Kara Connect’s financial strategy and operations, ensuring sustainable growth and effective financial management. With over a decade of experience across the tech, media, and healthcare sectors, including roles at Glofox and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Kate brings a wealth of expertise in finance leadership and business partnership. She is a Chartered Accountant with a passion for driving innovation and operational efficiency. Based in Dublin, Kate is dedicated to supporting Kara Connect’s mission to improve workplace wellbeing.

Graham Lawson

Graham heads up the Kara Customer Experience team, helping ensure our customers and their employees are being supported and maximising the benefits of the Kara Connect Platform.

With nearly 15 years in and around the benefits space, Graham has a background working at the intersection of technology and people. Prior to joining Kara, he worked at Perkbox running key Salary Sacrifice and discount propositions and as Head of Revenue at Amba. His background also includes roles at Virgin Media, where he managed affiliate and channel partner accounts within the employee benefits sector, as well as leadership positions at benefits tech start up Cloud8.

Outside of work Graham enjoys skiing, can be found taking photos of trees as a landscape photographer, playing golf and being kept busy with his kids!

Benjamin Kauffman

Ben is a passionate technologist, photographer, and car enthusiast, blending his love for cutting-edge innovation with a life of adventure. As the Head of Engineering at Kara Connect, he leads the team in creating transformative digital health solutions, constantly pushing boundaries and improving the product. Outside of work, Ben channels his creativity into high-performance cars, photography, and extreme sports. Known for buying cars all over the world, he loves driving fast and having wild adventures. Above all, Ben cherishes time with his wife and two daughters.

Andrew

Head of Product

Francisco Villacampa

Head of Marketing

Francisco joined Kara Connect at the beginning of 2024.  He is passionate about marketing and leads the Marketing team at Kara Connect. He speaks fluently his native Spanish, English, and Italian.

Kristin Einarsdóttir Scobie

Chief Clinical Officer

I’m a mix of Icelandic grit, compassion, and a serious love for getting things done. As the Chief Clinical Officer at Kara Connect, I’m all about transforming how mental health and wellbeing support is delivered, especially to those on the front lines of life. My background? Well, I’ve got a couple of master’s degrees in Occupational Therapy, Public Health and Race & Conflict Studies (because one wasn’t enough!), and I’ve worked on everything from Mongolian humanitarian projects to peace initiatives in Ireland. I currently live on a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve island off the coast of Denmark in the Baltic Sea, where the natural beauty fuels my passion for permaculture and animals. My family and I reside in a thatched-roofed farmhouse from the 1700s, where the chickens roam free, and we try to live in harmony with the land and grow our own food. When I’m not leading projects or figuring out how to make the world a better place, you’ll probably find me hiking a mountain, tending to the garden, or planning my next big idea. Life’s a whirlwind, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Amanda Swann

Head of Enterprise Development

Amanda joined Kara Connect in July 2025. She brings deep experience across multiple industries, with a strong track record of building preventative health and wellbeing programmes that drive better culture, engagement, and performance.

She’s known for her proactive, practical approach and for getting results. That mindset led her to judge the CIPD Workplace Wellbeing Award and help organise Britain’s Healthiest Workplace events.

Amanda is also a certified DISC Practitioner, using behavioural insights to help teams work better together.

She loves solving client problems. That’s it, in a nutshell.

Tara Calihman

Tara Calihman is a dynamic communications and product leader who has spent 15+ years helping tech companies tell better stories, connect with audiences, and bring impactful products to market. With a background spanning customer support, product management, and content marketing — plus a sideline in standup, improv, and theatre — she brings a rare mix of strategic rigor and genuine wit to everything she does. Whether she’s crafting a content roadmap, facilitating a team workshop, or helping a brand inject some much-needed levity into its culture, Tara’s superpower is making things land.

She is happiest when she is in the sea, near the sea, on the sea.

Dagný Berglind Gísladóttir

Dagný keep things running smoothly across teams, projects, and daily operations. She enjoys creating structure, improving workflows, and supporting work that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Currently finishing an MBA at Reykjavík University, she is particularly interested in the intersection of wellbeing, thoughtful systems, and meaningful work. Outside of work, Dagný’s greatest joy is her family and being a mother. She relaxes by creating from clay and exploring all things wellness.

Nicky Boiardi

Corporate Development Manager

A creative at heart, Nicky spent many years touring, writing and recording music around the world. Having experienced the transformative power of mental health support firsthand, he traded the tour bus for workplace wellbeing in 2020, applying his creativity and passion to push the frontiers of the industry forward. An ex-Londoner currently getting a daily dose of sea air in Brighton, Nicky continues to travel and is always up for a chat in English, Spanish, Italian…or Hagey Pagey with those that know!

Joe Keane

Customer Success Lead

I’m the Customer Success Lead. I’ve been with Kara Connect since February 2023 and really enjoy working here. Outside of work, I’m pretty boring! I love most sports, travelling and bringing the dog out for walks around Dublin 8 as much as possible.

Shane Cusack

Account Manager

Shane is an Account Manager at Kara Connect in Ireland, bringing over 15 years of experience across multiple sectors, including HR and Employment Law, Health & Safety, Communications, and Employee Wellbeing. With a deep expertise in building relationships with key stakeholders, Shane plays a pivotal role in positioning Kara Connect as the leading Mental Health & Wellness provider in the Irish market.

Outside of work Shane loves to spend time with his wife and 3 small children and whenever he gets a chance can be found cycling in the Dublin Mountains both on and off road.

Kate Dwyer

Creative Brand and Content Manager

Kate is a passionate creative with 15+ years of experience in all things visual and communication,  and somehow still has plenty to say about it. A lover of festivals, film, theatre, and—above all—music, she firmly believes a good bop (at a gig or in the kitchen) can solve most of life’s little problems.

After more than a decade honing her craft in agency life and advertising (the late nights, the last-minute briefs, the “can we just make the logo bigger?” moments), Kate made a deliberate move away from the commercial world to pursue work with real purpose. Now serving as Creative Brand and Content Manager at Kara Connect, she channels her creativity into something she actually cares about, because she believes the world deserves better, and she’s here to help make that happen, one beautifully crafted piece of content at a time.

Polina

Customer Success Specialist

My name is Polina, and I’m originally from Moscow, Russia, though I have been living in Ireland for over six years now. I hold a BA in Linguistics and Literature, and I also spent two years studying animation. Currently, I am doing my Postgraduate in Management and Marketing . In addition to my native Russian and English, I am fluent in both Dutch and Irish. I love fencing, and I do HEMA fencing myself. When I’m not at work, you can often find me painting or at my fencing club poking my friends with metal sticks.

Agnieszka Sołtysiak

Agnieszka is a QA professional with a passion for delivering bug-free software and is currently focused on test automation within our Kara Development Team. Outside of work, she enjoys long runs, rope-jumping and exploring new countries.

El Houcine Boukhari

Developer

Hi my name is El Houcine, I’m someone who thrives on creativity and connection, wether that’s through my work as a front end developer or my hobbies. Outside of coding I love immersing myself in the world of manga and games where I find inspiration and that competitive side when it’s time to play some ranked games, Volleyball is my go-to activity for staying active and have fun with friends.

Snorri Örn Daníelsson

Senior Software Development

Sigrún Eggertsdóttir

Account and Partnerships Manager

I’m a full-time mom, part-time sheep whisperer, and aspiring world traveler! I am passionate about family, nature, and travel. I feel most at home on my farm, surrounded by my sheep, horses, and animals, and I find joy in the simple moments. My farm is a mix of animals and chaos, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether I’m trying to outsmart my horses or convincing my sheep I’m the boss, life is always an adventure. When I’m not living my best farm life, I’m helping companies around the globe support their employees. Basically, I juggle animals, kids, and work—and somehow still manage to find time for the occasional getaway!

Atli Gíslason

Developer

While working at Kara Connect, I study Product Design at Listahaskóli Íslands (Icelandic University of the Arts). I love creating things whether they are digital or physical and have a love for systems and structures.

Jón Helgi Jonsson

Product Manager

Aleysia Bozhytska

Product Designer

Sophie Katz

Senior Software Developer

I’m a senior software developer based in Reykjavik, Iceland. I relocated here from the United States approximately three years ago. With over fifteen years of experience in software development, I’ve been with Kara for more than a year now. In my leisure time, I enjoy swimming, indulging in more software development for fun (I know, I know), and spending quality time with my friends.

Shona Adamus

Commercial Manager

Shona is a Commercial Manager at Kara Connect with over a decade of experience across SaaS, health tech, and operations. Wellbeing isn’t just her job- it’s genuinely her thing, backed up by an MSc in Nutrition and Public Health, a Sport Science degree, a Pilates qualification, and a Life Coach certification in progress. At this point it’s less a career path, more a calling.

She’s spent her career building commercial partnerships that actually make a difference, and she’s found her people at Kara Connect.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s outdoors- surfing, climbing, mountain-biking, or hiking somewhere with questionable weather but amazing views. Basically, if it’s outside and slightly uncomfortable, she’s in!

Cleo

Cleo may be small, but she brings big personality to Kara Connect as our Director of Tiny Pawsitivity. With her endless enthusiasm and charm, Cleo’s specialty is spreading joy and keeping spirits high. Known for her bouncy energy, stylish looks, and fierce loyalty, she’s always ready to brighten a room and remind us that the little things matter. When she’s not boosting morale, Cleo can be found inspecting laps for optimal coziness or leading impromptu playtime sessions.

Margo

Margo is the one of the softest and friendliest member of Kara Connect’s team, bringing pawsitive energy and tail-wagging charm to our workplace wellbeing mission. With a knack for sniffing out good vibes and cheering up her coworkers, Margo reminds us all to take breaks, enjoy the little moments, and approach challenges with a bark and a smile. When she’s not on pawtrol, you’ll find her snoozing in the sun, taste-testing treats, or fetching new ideas to keep our team smiling

Lady Ella Scobie

Ella takes her responsibilities very seriously, keeping a watchful eye on all activities with her expert stare that ensures productivity (and treats). As the Bad Breath Enforcement Specialist, she’s always on sniff patrol, keeping the team fresh and fabulous. Known for her intense focus and dedication to the wellbeing of everyone around her, Ella reminds us to stay sharp and take things one sniff at a time. When she’s not staring, she’s likely found judging our snacks or enforcing cuddle quotas!

Aría

Aría brings her expert hunting skills and keen reflexes to Kara Connect as our dedicated Mouse Control Specialist. Always on the prowl, Aría keeps the workplace rodent-free and ensures that no squeaky intruders disrupt our flow. Known for her stealth, agility, and occasional desk naps, she reminds us all to stay focused—and that curiosity is key. When she’s off duty, Aría can be found lounging in sunbeams, refining her pounce, or gracing us with a regal stare of approval.

Pompom

Rex