Karim's mission is to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to fulfill their potential through transformational coaching
Reverend Karim Camara is the founder and Chief Inspirational Officer (the equivalent of a Chief Executive Officer, or “CEO”) of Camara Strategies International, providing coaching services in leadership, business, and spiritual coaching, keynote speeches, team training, and workshops. In addition to coaching, he serves as a marketing strategist with MayByrd Media, a digital marketing and communications firm.
Karim was trained in leadership coaching directly by John C. Maxwell, a multiple best-selling author who was consistently named one of the world’s top leadership experts and his top leadership team. He is a member of the John C. Maxwell Leadership Certified Team- a global network of leaders, coaches, trainers, and speakers who help individuals, companies, and organizations develop their leadership skills. As a leadership coach, Karim Camara inspires and empowers individuals and organizations to achieve peak performance through servant leadership and transformational leadership.
As a former New York State legislator (elected member of the New York State Assembly) and a high-ranking state government official (founding Executive Director of an office that coordinated capacity building efforts throughout the state, including the dispensing of $100 million in state grants to New York non-profits), he earned recognition several times as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful People in New York State, illustrating his profound ability to lead and influence.
His extensive experience as a non-profit executive, an elected official (state legislator), a government official who led a statewide office, and as a pastor are all valuable contributors to his leadership expertise, bringing a unique perspective on ethical decision-making, resource management, and stakeholder engagement that can benefit businesses in any sector.
Karim’s unique blend of skills, knowledge, and expertise, along with his ability to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to achieve peak performance through strategic leadership development and cutting-edge scientific marketing techniques, is unparalleled. He combines a rich tapestry of public service, business insight, and spiritual leadership, delivering tangible results through commitment, knowledge, and performance. He combines a rich tapestry of public service, business insight, and spiritual leadership.
He resides in Brooklyn with his wife and two children, who serve as constant reminders of the foundation that drives his professional endeavors.
lead on PURPOSE |
live with passioN
My Leadership Story
Coaching services for executives, company leaders, or potential leaders at any level. Whether you need individual coaching, group coaching, workshops, or team training, we can help.
My Leadership Story
In addition to the traditional bio, I’d like to share a bit about myself. As a leadership coach, business coach, and spiritual coach with fifteen years of experience, I am passionate about and dedicated to helping leaders and organizations make an impact by tapping into their “world-changing power’ and to assisting them to soar to higher heights as they make a difference through their callings. I’ve witnessed the transformative power of effective coaching.
In “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” an enlightening book, author Robert Fulghum highlights how our earliest education lays the foundation for all we do. It lays the foundation for critical adult life skills. I could call this “About” section “All I Really Need to Know About Leadership I Learned in 8th Grade.”
From 8th grade through high school, I attended Brooklyn Friends School (BFS). BFS was founded by and affiliated with the Society of Friends, a religious organization known as Quakers, which originated from the Christian tradition. Quakers are known for a lack of hierarchy and an egalitarian approach where everyone’s voices, ideas, and talents are valued. It is not by coincidence that Sidney Greenleaf, the intellectual founder of servant leadership, was a Quaker. The principles of servant leadership I learned at BFS shaped my thoughts and philosophies before I was formally aware of the term “leadership style” or “servant leader,” nor had I heard of Mr. Greenleaf or his book, “Servant Leadership.”
We are driven by many endeavors to “live in the light.” You will often hear Quakers use the phrase “living in the light” or “holding someone in the light,” which means being guided by a divine presence or spiritual awareness. It can involve prayer or offering support to others by seeking to help illuminate their path and encouraging their growth. Individuals are encouraged to “live in the light” and not rely solely on someone else’s experience as their guide. As a coach, the ultimate way to serve and the ultimate honor is to “hold the light” for the person or group that I am coaching, not necessarily in a religious sense, but to help them see the light themselves so that they can proceed on the path they are seeking.
As a leadership coach, I aim to empower leaders to unlock their full potential and build high-performing teams. With over 20 years of experience as a church pastor and coach, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of effective leadership firsthand. I’m passionate about helping leaders like you achieve exceptional results.”
My leadership philosophy began long before I became a professional coach or even considered becoming one. It started at Brooklyn Friends School, where I learned the Quaker principles of equality, respect, and servant leadership. My preteen years were tough, to be honest. My journey of overcoming being an introverted and timid child who went to a different school every year, from fifth grade through eighth grade, shaped my thought process, engraining in me the significance of the power of human relationships. These early experiences laid the foundation for my approach to leadership coaching.
My coaching style is collaborative and results-oriented. I work closely with each individual to understand their unique challenges and aspirations; then, we develop a tailored plan to help them achieve their goals. I focus on developing strong leadership skills, promoting authentic communication, and cultivating a positive and engaging work environment.
In 2015, I took a significant step in my coaching career by becoming a John C. Maxwell Certified Coach. This certification and my background as a marketer and spiritual teacher give me a unique perspective on leadership development.
With over ten years of professional experience and more than twenty years of ministry experience (both in a church setting and among disconnected youth), I am passionate about helping individuals, leaders, executives, and organizations reach their full leadership potential.
My coaching specialties are callings deeply connected to my interests, passions, and gifts. I put a lot of thought into having one website for all my coaching services. However, I decided to create separate sites focused on my niches. Why? My objective was to have clarity for each site, for those searching online for my services and those seeking information as they pursue their journey. To learn more about my work as a spiritual coach, please visit https://www.KarimCamara.Org. For my business coaching services, you can visit https://www.KarimCamara.Net.