Kamara Barnes
Kamara Barnes, MBA, CPLC, is the Vice President of Home Care & Hospice at VHSNJ at Home, LLC, a joint venture between Hackensack Meridian Health and St. Joseph’s Health. With over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, she oversees the operations, quality, and growth of home health and hospice services, leading a dedicated team of clinical and administrative professionals. Her expertise spans executive leadership, clinical operations, strategic planning, fiscal management, and quality assurance, reinforced by her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification and MBA in Healthcare Administration. Kamara is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective care to local communities.
In addition to her executive role, Kamara is the founder and owner of Tiaras and Lipstick, LLC, a private coaching practice focused on personal, career, leadership, and empowerment development. As a Certified Professional Life Coach (CPLC) and motivational speaker, she provides individualized and group coaching, as well as educational and motivational engagements. Through her coaching, Kamara helps individuals, groups, and organizations recognize their value, achieve their goals, and successfully navigate personal and professional transitions.
Kamara’s work is guided by a passion for empowering women and underserved populations. Inspired by her mother, a retired oncology nurse, she blends operational excellence with compassion, fostering meaningful connections and transformational growth. Known for her warm, grounded, and purpose-driven approach, she balances a full-time executive career with coaching, speaking, and mentoring, all while striving to expand her impact through motivational platforms, workshops, and community initiatives.
• Certified Professional Life Coach (CPLC)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
• William Howard Taft University - MBA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith, the example set by my parents—especially my mother, a retired oncology nurse—and my ability to combine compassion with operational excellence. My experiences in healthcare, along with my genuine desire to uplift women, enable me to lead with both authority and empathy.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay the course, trust the process, and not let obstacles discourage me. I’ve learned that true growth often happens just outside of your comfort zone.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to be persistent, believe in yourself, and invest in your personal growth. I view challenges not as barriers, but as opportunities to evolve and become a stronger leader.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in my field is helping women fully recognize the value of coaching and personal development, while healthcare continues to grapple with insurance and access barriers. At the same time, I see a tremendous opportunity in expanding education, advocacy, and community-based solutions that empower individuals to take ownership of both their health and their careers.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, service, integrity, lifelong learning, compassion, and empowerment. I am deeply committed to helping people—especially women—recognize their worth, advocate for themselves, and thrive both personally and professionally.