That question sat at the heart of Before You Leave Corporate: The Financial Conversation Nobody Has With You, and it turned out to be the question that unlocked everything else. I went into the session knowing we would cover numbers, benefits, pricing and financial runway. What I did not fully anticipate was how quickly the conversation would move from the practical to the deeply personal. Because once you start talking honestly about money — what you earn, what you spend, wh

Karen F Burke leads a practical workshop for professionals considering leaving corporate life. Know your numbers, understand your financial runway and make the leap prepared.

What 18 Years in Lewisham Taught Me About Recognition, Resilience and Giving Back Some opportunities feel particularly meaningful because they bring you full circle. I am genuinely proud and privileged to have been invited to join the shortlisting panel for the Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards 2026. Having built and grown our businesses in this borough for 18 years, it feels like one of those moments where the community you have poured yourself into quietly, consistently and

There are moments in your career when an opportunity lands and you know immediately that saying no is not an option. Being invited to join the Black Equity Organisation FTSE 100 Mentoring Programme as a mentor was one of those moments for me. I am now working in weekly one-to-one sessions with Black founders who are building businesses across technology, fintech, healthtech, FMCG and more. These are early to growth-stage entrepreneurs with strong domain expertise, clear comme

What Fifteen Years in Business Has Taught Me About Growth, Resilience and Letting Go For a long time I believed that good leadership meant keeping every ball in the air. Running a business, supporting a team, managing finances, serving clients, developing new opportunities, looking after family, maintaining relationships and somehow finding time to think about the future. Many business owners and leaders know this feeling well and most of us spend years believing it is just t

Your diary reveals your real priorities. Karen F Burke shares why time mastery not time management is the key to focus, boundaries and business growth.

There Is a Season for Everything, including You. I have been a daughter, a sister, a mother, an aunty, a grandmother. I have sat with grief that arrived without warning. I have built businesses, rebuilt myself, navigated corporate corridors where I was too often the only person who looked like me, and come out the other side not just intact but clearer about who I am and what I am here to do. What I know now, that I wish I had known earlier, is this: life does not run in a s

International Women's Day to celebrate the cultural, social, economic and political achievements of women. Throughout the whole month, Lewisham Local used their platform to amplify the voices of women in the community, taking an in-depth look at the specific struggles that each individual has overcome with a special focus on intersectionality, change and womanhood. Listen to what Karen had to say.

At the close of our event, Karen F. Burke delivered a powerful and grounded talk titled “Purpose & Vision” , a fitting finale that...

Karen and Devon Burke’s labour of love, Building Life Muscles is finished and out now for publication. Hot on the heels of their first...

New Therapist Advice How to choose the right job/workplace Location is key but not everything. It's more important to check the area to see if what you offer is relevant for that clientele. Scan websites but it's best to visit and ask to be shown around or book a treatment. Check how they welcome people, the ambience and if you could fit into their ethos and team. Some therapists like to work in a different location to where they live for safety reasons (unless you come fro

A poem written by Karen Burke, 2nd gen some years ago and spoken at black history uk events. Still relevant for today for 3rd and 4th gen Caribbean descendants as we continue to rise beyond expectations across all genres of work and life....my people black civilisation. Dedicated to the Windrush generation including my Mum and Dad.

A poem written by Karen Burke, Memories of foods from the other motherland of my DNA - Jamaica Dedicated to the Windrush generation including my Mum and Dad.