Her Story
About Karmen
Karmen Lewis is the Founder and Managing Principal of Wisdom Holdings Group, a multi-venture enterprise that provides services across professional services, hospitality, and event management, with a non-profit arm directed toward community capacity building. She brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate environments and eight years as an entrepreneur, following roles in the federal government and various sectors including nonprofit work with the Children's Defense Fund, consulting focused on meetings and events, healthcare IT, and federal government IT. A certified change management practitioner, Lewis holds a degree in mortuary science and began her career in her family's funeral home business before transitioning to broader professional opportunities in Washington, D.C.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Karmen
01What do you attribute your success to?
A good strong network of supportive family and friends. Surrounding myself intentionally with mentors and people who are doing the things that I want to do. Having systems and routines in place.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Risk over regret. Take the risk so you won't have regret. Sometimes opportunities only come once in a lifetime.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't doubt yourself. Go head first. That vision, that dream that you have, it can happen. It may take hard work, there may be setbacks, you may have to solicit some support. But if you are truly passionate about it, you can make it happen.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Lots of opportunity for continued growth and development with state agencies, local governments, corporations. Challenge around funding availability and budgets, but opportunity to help clients look strategically at funding spend for better efficiency.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity. Trust. Finding shared commonality and leveraging diversity as a strength.
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