On Purpose

From fixing extended frame relays connecting to North Sea oil rigs, to designing and implementing a 600-seat virtual service centre for the Commonwealth Bank in 12 weeks, Karen James is a 'fixer' and 'doer' who holds people at the heart of every service model she rolls out. Using these principles, she turned a $9M business into a $100M business early on in her career, and set the tone for her future in business: have purpose, build the right culture, and bring in amazing leaders who are, above all, human.
This same approach reaped rewards when Karen later co-created a cross-cultural change program for the Commonwealth Bank. Partnering with The Hunger Project and McKinsey, she implemented a leadership-lesson program based on the teachings of women in rural India. The program has directly changed the lives of over sixty people since, and its transformational ripple effect continues to make monumental changes to this day.
But the real defining moment for Karen was personal, and it took place in her most recent role at the Commonwealth Bank. There she led the birth and growth of the Women in Focus network - a supportive community of over 10,000 businesswomen - built within three years, from scratch. Not only did Karen and her team prove that a corporate bank could develop more meaningful relationships with its community of clients, they also showed over 10,000 women that anyone who believes in themselves can have untold doors opened to them
These days, Karen is guided by her own Why. She is on a heartfelt mission to help people in business find their own inner leader and feel empowered to be the change that we are all headed towards. She believes this change represents a global shift in direction, inviting a new economy based on connection and humanity. It's where the future of business lies - and it's where tomorrow's leaders will be inspired to create positive change for us all.