Karen Humber
“My Interest in People and How They Work Together Has Been a Lifelong Pursuit”
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“I grew up on the side of the Alaska Highway”, says Karen Humber as a start to the story of her journey. Her story has been one of on-going development that continues as she launches her own company as a meeting planner and facilitator.
Karen holds a degree is Psychology and Sociology from the University of Victoria. After spending time traveling (her lifelong love), she returned to the Yukon to work for the government in administration, communications and research/ planning; where among other things, she organized events and opened a satellite office for a senior government minister. Having worked for government, non-profit organizations and as an entrepreneur, she is adept with government protocol, effective meeting formats and project coordination.
In 1991, Karen moved to Duncan, BC with her husband, sailing from Skagway to Vancouver Island in order to enroll their daughter in a school there. Karen, her husband and their 2 children lived on their boat for 9 months before deciding to set down roots in Duncan.
Her first taste of entrepreneurship in Duncan was to own and operate a small general store. This was followed by a year spent developing products for caring for the sick at home and arranging workshops on how to use the products.
Karen spent seven years as the Business Administrator of a Waldorf School, an independent school which as well as a unique pedagogy, operates with a non-hierarchical administration. During this time Karen also began training in Non-Violent Communication which is a powerful methodology for communicating in a way that meets both parties’ needs.
This ongoing fascination with how people work together has led directly to Karen launching her new company that will focus on both meeting planning and facilitating. Karen now proudly describes herself as a ‘self-bosser’.
“When people feel they have been heard, they are more able to listen to what others have to say and then can come together as a group on how to move forward.”
Karen studied consensus decision-making and conflict resolution at the Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California, and believes that the wisdom of the group is greater than individuals on their own. Karen’s meeting planning and facilitation will benefit her clients because of her commitment to respecting and including input from all participants.
Karen discovered Roaring Women on the internet while searching for women’s networking groups in her area. “There was something about Roaring Women that attracted me. I phoned Mandie and her enthusiasm inspired me. I felt an immediate kinship”. “Mandie has identified a need and is meeting that need with her format for connecting women..."
Because there were no business women’s groups located in the Valley near Karen, she approached Mandie about starting a chapter there. Karen is now the Regional Director of Roaring Women Cowichan and her inaugural meeting is September 25, 2007.
Karen sums up her approach to meeting planning and facilitation – “My vision is to help clients create innovative and creative solutions through the collaboration of all participants.
Written by: Marcia Barhydt |
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