The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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Leader in Design Justice and Social Impact Marketing: Meet Founder and CEO Karen Baker
Karen R. Baker, Founder/President of Boathouse, DC, specializing in nonprofit collaboration, social impact marketing, web 3, DEI, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). She is also an expert in Design Justice, which rethinks design processes, centers people who are normally marginalized by design, and uses collaborative, creative practices to address the deepest challenges our communities face.
What is your personal/professional story?
Originally from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, I came to Washington, DC 35 years ago to attend Howard University and never left. After completing my bachelor’s degree at Howard, I pursued multiple master’s degrees from George Washington University and Savannah College of Art and Design. In a recent move, I chose to work towards a Doctorate in Design Research from North Carolina State University, College of Design, to design stronger institutions with a sustainable, socially responsible mission.
For 27 years, I was the CEO of Sevenconcepts Inc., a privately held strategic and experiential marketing consulting practice. We designed and integrated solutions for more than 120 campaigns and initiatives for commercial, federal, and local government and nonprofits. In 2021, I was recruited by Boathouse Group Inc., a marketing and communications firm, located in Boston, to launch a Washington Metropolitan area office and help grow the firm's business.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
Spearheading the launch of Boathouse’s first supplier diversity program as part of our DEIB efforts has been a key moment. Our Supplier Diversity Program is a proactive business program with a strategy to increase our organization’s vendor base by fostering an inclusive supplier environment that promotes fair and equal opportunities for diverse, underrepresented, and historically underutilized business concerns.
The future is our new social impact practice that integrates AI research, which I launched in September 2023. We believe authenticity in social impact offers change. Whether the focus is equity and inclusion, specific social issues, philanthropy, employee trust, or all of these, being purpose-driven in our narrative and how we define and identify the impact is our focus. We have a tremendous passion for and a long history of helping our clients fulfill their missions and solve real business challenges. While these challenges differ by client and category, our philosophy never wavers: we are relentlessly focused on helping our clients and the people they serve.
Throughout my entrepreneurial and marketing journey, I have also played the role of an educator. From 2005-2020, I served as Adjunct Professor at George Washington University and taught at multiple institutions (Coppin State, American Public University, and New School of Architecture and Design) until 2020. As a professor, I had the opportunity to see my students go on to build their own companies, be promoted to senior leadership positions, and earn graduate degrees. I am always inspired by teaching and advising–whether inside the classroom or within the corporate environment.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
My passion for service comes from the civil rights leadership, history, and legacy of my family. The understanding of serving is a practice embedded within me. From my education in political science and public policy to practicing the methodology of design thinking in business, I continue to teach and demonstrate empathy in how and for whom we design and market. I know what it takes to drive social change. I implement my passion to serve and execute through a practice called Design Justice. Developed in 2015, Design Justice rethinks design processes and centers people who are normally marginalized by design. It uses collaborative, creative practices to address systematic problems through ten guided principles.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals
Mentorship and on-the-job training for our young professionals are key areas of focus for Boathouse. Every summer we provide paid internships for marketing and communication undergraduate and graduate students. It’s an opportunity to learn new skills and build a portfolio and a professional network. Interns work with a social enterprise or nonprofit to support them in achieving their vision and mission. The program has grown and the outreach to more diverse communities would be great to access through GlobalMindED.
Lastly, we are always looking for mission-based organizations and socially responsible businesses to support in their initiatives and campaigns. The more people who know about Boathouse and what we offer, the more communities we can serve. At the end of it all, the impactful experience we create is the fundamental driver of social impact marketing.
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Highlights from the 2023 GlobalMindED Annual Conference this past June:
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PBS12 Denver filmed and live-streamed the 2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Awards on June 7th as well as our main stage plenaries and presentations on June 8th. You can find them all individually on the GlobalMindED YouTube channel.
2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award Winners' introductions and acceptance remarks:
Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE: Inclusive Leader - Early Childhood Education
Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Inclusive Leader - K-12 Education
Carrie Billy, CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium: Inclusive Leader - Higher Education
Afua Bruce, Founder & Principal, ANB Advisory Group: Inclusive Leader - Government
Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association: Inclusive Leader - Health & Wellness
Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking, US Bank: Inclusive Leader - Banking & Finance
Greg Robinson, James Webb Space Telescope Project Director NASA (ret): Inclusive Leader - Space & Aerospace
Mary Nichols, Professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment, Inclusive Leader - Energy & Sustainability
Michael Campbell, General Manager, Education Division, Intel: Inclusive Leader - Technology
Diego Mariscal, CEO & Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International: Inclusive Leader - Entrepreneurship
Mario Carrera, President & CEO, CLLARO: Inclusive Leader - Media & Arts
Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman, Ibn Sina Foundation: Inclusive Leader - Foundations & Funders
Rosanna Durruthy, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, LinkedIn: Inclusive Leader -Global Impact
Kimberly Bryant, Founder & CEO, Black Innovation Lab; Black Girls Code: Inclusive Leader - Non-Profit
Click below to see Insights from GlobalMindED Leaders:
View the Main-stage Presentations:
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View the Sessions from our United Nations Event: Transforming Financial Boundaries |
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Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley and James Rhee, Founder/Owner, red helicopter
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Michael Maquet-Diafouka, Managing Director, Global Family and Institutional Wealth, UBS, Chris Marsh, Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, UBS,Janet C. Salazar, Chairman & President, Foundation for the Support of the United Nations
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Tyler Naha, Student, Denver East High School, Dr. Mary Papazian, Exec. VP, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Dr. Philomenta Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University, Dr. Yustina Saleh, Managing Director, Innovation Solutions, The Burning Glass Institute, Alfonzo Alexander, Chief Ethics & Diversity Officer, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
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Dr. D'Andre Weaver, Chief Digital Equity Officer, Digital Promise, Michael Woods, President, Woods Capital, the Honorable Dr. Kimberly McClain, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department HUD, Preston James, II, Co-Founder and CEO, Divinc, Gaby Rowe, Founding Principal, Grow Associates
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Dr. Craig Jonas, Founder and CEO, CoPeace, Victoria Vasques, Owner & Chairwoman, Tribal Tech LLC, Sachin Chaudhry, Founder and CEO, TrustCircle and BringChange Foundation, Kyle Hybl, President & CEO, El Pomar Foundation, Beth Cobert, Acting President, Markle Foundation
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Dr. Denise Lujan, Director, Entering Student Experience, University of Texas at El Paso, Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University, Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Gina Fratarcangeli, Managing Director, Google, Shital C. Shah, Sr. Advisor, Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Education
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Sam Lalanne, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion |
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Would you like to give to support our student programs? You can scan the QR code below or go to our website to support our year-round programs. GlobalMindED is a 501(c)(3).
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Thank you to all of the Sponsors, Speakers, Students, and Attendees at GlobalMindED 2023
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