Karenthia A. Barber
A DNA FOR BUSINESS
1. Who is Karenthia A. Barber?
Karenthia A. Barber is an award-winning businesswoman withover 20 years of experience in business, education/training and human resources. Recognized as an exceptional strategist, world-class speaker, seasoned business consultant, and leadership coach, she has provided a wide range of organizational development and training services including workshops, facilitating focus groups, seminars, retreats and coaching. Ms. Barber has designed and facilitated training programs for companies of all sizes including federal, state, corporate and non-profit organizations throughout this country and abroad. She has presented workshops and trainings for over two hundred thousand individuals from all levels of an organization, representing a broad range of ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity.
Ms. Barber has been recognized for her expertise in the areas of leadership, motivation, coaching, communication, conflict management, diversity, equity and inclusion, customer service, community engagement, and workplace violence. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at a number of colleges and universities. Ms. Barber has served in both appointed and elected office and is a respected advisor to many corporate executives, elected and public officials.
Ms. Barber received her undergraduate education at the University of Pittsburgh and completed her graduate studies at Penn State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Maryland and Coach University.
She served as the first woman Chair of the Board of Trustees of Maryland Automobile Insurance. The Md. Daily Record named Ms. Barber a Top 100 Women in Maryland. Leadership Maryland honored her at the 25th Anniversary celebration in 2017 for her statewide leadership and impact. She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and The Baltimore (MD) Links, Inc.
2. Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
My parents raised me to love God, value education and have a sense of civic responsibility. Being a business owner means I am honored to be able to advance those values by sharing my gifts, education, experience, and expertise to positively impact the lives of others.
I am often asked what inspired me to become a business owner. The answer is simple.... it’s in my DNA. I have been blessed to come from a legacy of successful business owners. As a child, I watched my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings run businesses including farms, real estate development, beauty salons and retail stores. My maternal grandfather owned a farm and the only taxi service in Chester, South Carolina.
At the age of 9, I told my parents that I wanted to start a business. I am forever grateful that they embraced my goal and nurtured my entrepreneurial skills as I started my first business.As a businesswoman, I am able to continue the legacy of my family and impact generations to come while effectuating change in organizations, individuals, and communities.
3. Karenthia, what is the key to personal and professional successs?
The foundation of personal and professional success is having clarity of purpose, coupled with knowing who you are and whose you are. Secondly, it is important to assess your skills, abilities and interests and utilize that knowledge to identify how they can be leveraged to serve others. In addition, authentic connections with like-minded individuals, a commitment to lifelong learning and exposure to different experiences positions us for personal and professional success.
4. Karenthia, please share with readers the importance of effective communication in personal and professional relationships?
Effective communication is essential to personal and professional success. Recognizing that the purpose of the communication process is to facilitate understanding, the more you enhance your communication effectiveness…the more you can understand others and be understood. This fosters trust, mural respect and helps us to build stronger interpersonal relationships and more effective and efficient organizations. A mastery of effective communication helps us to experience fewer misunderstandings, less conflict and ultimately less stress. The more attention you give to improving your communication skills; the more effective you will become in every aspect of your life.
5. What is some advice you would give to aspiring leadership coaches?
Enroll in a coaching program to hone your skills and work with a coach who has accomplished what it is you desire to achieve. To be a coach one must be coachable. Be mindful that active listening is crucial to the coaching process.
And finally, leadership coaching is not counseling, consulting, or teaching. (even though you may also serve in that capacity)The goal is to partner with a client and support them and provide resources as they identify their own solutions and find their own outcomes.
6. What is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
I have provided training, consulting, and coaching services for both public and private organizations of all sizes, and individuals on all levels of an organization. I have been blessed to have directly impacted the lives of over 200,000 individuals who have been able to broaden their horizons and expand their possibilities. I am grateful to be able to walk in my purpose with passion to serve others.
