Karen Barrett

Karen Barrett
BornSeptember 1973 (age 52)
Edgware, London, England
CitizenshipIrish
Alma materNewcastle University (BS)
OccupationBusinesswoman

Karen Barrett (born September 1973) is a businesswoman and the chief executive of Unbiased, a financial advice company based in the UK, which she founded in 2009.[1][2][3]

Having worked in Mortgage Express, where she launched the company's first website, and Abbey National, Barrett founded Unbiased to provide a platform for consumers to secure free financial advice. By 2021, the firm had over 70 staff and had secured 5.6 million pounds of funding.[3]

Recognition

In 2024, Barrett was named Great British Entrepreneur of the Year and London Equity-backed Entrepreneur of the Year at the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards.[4][5] She also received the Woman of the Year Award in the fintech category at the 2024 Women in Financial Advice Awards.[6][7][8]

Personal life

From Ireland, as of 2021 Barrett was based in Hertfordshire and married with three children.[3]

References

  1. ^ Morris, Martin (22 November 2024). "'Innovation' the watchword at the recently-held Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2024". Elite Business Magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  2. ^ Luckie, Shelley (6 March 2025). "Female entrepreneurs call for support to accelerate action towards equality". WeAreTheCity - Supporting Women in Business. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Talking Leadership: Karen Barrett, CEO of fintech platform Unbiased shares her start-up story". Business in the News. 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  4. ^ Browne, Tom (22 November 2024). "Unbiased founder named Great British Entrepreneur of the Year". Money Marketing. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  5. ^ Headlinemoney (12 June 2025). "Karen Barrett, Founder & Chief Executive, Unbiased". Headlinemoney. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Karen Barrett – Unbiased". Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  7. ^ Whitbread, Sue (8 March 2024). "Inspiring inclusion: Unbiased's Karen Barrett shares her personal reflections on how and why boosting diversity & inclusion is essential for the financial services profession to thrive". IFA Magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Talking Leadership: Karen Barrett, CEO of fintech platform Unbiased shares her start-up story - Business in the News". Business in the News. 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2026.