the stoltenberg family relocated often as a result of thorvald's career as a diplomat. karin started her career as a government official working for the norwegian agency for development cooperation. in 1972 she accepted a position as senior official in what was then the consumer and administration department. there she, under the direction of inger louise valle developed several policy initiatives to include women in the workforce. she also worked as a state secretary in the ministry of commerce and shipping, and the ministry of trade of industry. she characterized herself as being a bureaucrat rather than a politician and rarely participated in her husband's political activities.