Karen X Cheng

Karen X is a trailblazing viral video director and founder of Butterbar, a leading viral marketing agency. She first captured widespread attention when she famously quit Microsoft with a viral song video, earning her a spot on Inc’s 30 under 30. Known for her creative video concepts like the Donut Selfie and the fake drone series, Karen's work has not only featured on NBC, Good Morning America, and Ellen, but has also been integral to major campaigns for Beats By Dre and PUMA, with the latter's #SheMovesUs campaign becoming their most viral TikTok of the year. Recently, Karen has shifted her innovative focus towards incorporating new technologies such as AI, VR, and AR into her projects. A notable example includes her partnership with McDonald’s on a Lunar New Year campaign, where she developed an AR filter that creatively transitioned from a tiger to a rabbit, symbolizing the new year's change. Karen has shared her expertise on stages at Google, Stanford, and TEDx, consistently pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling and marketing.