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FULL CIRCLE NY by KAREN E. NETHERSOLE, ESQ.
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DiversityBusiness.com Article/- Although we celebrated Women’s History Month last month, it is important to continue to recognize those who are in businesses that meet the needs of the post-recession economy. One such leader in that movement is Karen Nethersole, Esq. the Founder and CEO of Full Circle NY (FCNY). The economy has left 15 million people without jobs. As it slowly starts to recover from the worst economic recession in many decades it is widely agreed that it will take years to bring employment levels near where they once were and also that the kinds of jobs available and the way goods and services will be delivered is changing-permanently. For those who are employed, over 50% are simply tolerating their job.
In an economic downturn innovative and flexible businesses will thrive. Those who can adapt in a timely fashion to the new conditions have the best chance for success. “Survival of the fittest” has evolved into “survival of the nimble.” Karen is in tune with this philosophy and FCNY is a business that continues to evolve to meet the needs of its clients comprised of business professionals, including those in the sports and entertainment industries seeking assistance in career growth and career transition. Unfortunately, with the current state of the economy many have not adequately planned for their next career and life move. Karen has witnessed this across many industries. She shares an all too common situation in the NFL where planning life after retirement is crucial. The life span of an NFL player is typically 4-6 years and injury may shorten that time. Free agency comes and goes every year and for some it's an extraordinary blessing leaving them feeling appreciated and awash in cash. For others, though, it serves as a rude awakening bringing to their attention the fact that they are no longer the belle of the ball. No one is immune to this reality including professional athletes, celebrities and corporate executives. Many, including working people face this reality when confronted with “what’s next in their career”.
You can lose a job, but you don’t lose your skills and many skills are transferable. Karen exemplifies what it takes to make a transition into the new economy. Throughout her career Karen has transitioned to different positions, industries and careers. She has been proactive in planning well in advance her next goal rather than being reactive and left to figure out next steps. Like Jay-Z says “on to the next one.” Focused on advocating for and empowering her clients Karen began at a private law firm as outside counsel to Fortune 500 companies and then transitioned from law to a career in Human Resources at a Fortune 500 Company. Karen has enacted powerful positive change and is most recently featured in Examiner.com (Sports and Society) and (NY) sections. She has also been featured in ESSENCE magazine, Black Enterprise magazine “Reclaim Your Career,” The Network Journal “Human Resources: The changing nature of talent acquisition “and The Harvard University Guide to Summer Opportunities 2008. Inspired by the diversity of talents and skills she saw in college students and professionals, in 2005 Karen drafted the blueprint for what would become FCNY. FCNY was created to connect people to each other and to business opportunities- a timeless mission. After becoming a TNJ 40 Under Forty award recipient in 2008 Karen transitioned to become a full time entrepreneur at FCNY and carry out its mission.
To transition effectively one needs to be equipped with certain tools. Such tools include a personal brand, ability to build strong relationships, attracting mentors and mentees and having an entrepreneurial mindset, even if you continue to work for others. For instance, branding is a “tool” used by FCNY to advocate the development of the five tool player, a reference in baseball of a “complete” player, who can hit, hit for power, run, field and throw. Karen, like a five tool player, is an attorney, a businessperson and also possesses a creative mind. She’s not all business though. The former scholar-athlete understands the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and adheres to the philosophy to work hard and play hard as she continues to study Latin dances, yoga and enjoy cardio exercises. A traditional girl at heart, she often entertains business clients with her cooking (another hidden talent) that has managed to seal many deals.
We don’t live in a perfect world. As a black woman being taken seriously despite stereotypes and navigating a culture from which race or gender has traditionally been excluded require dexterity, interpersonal competency and superior negotiation skills. To find allies, Karen earned the trust of people who are different long enough to show how they can achieve mutual goals by working together. In the process, she’s gained creditability, challenged assumptions and created cultural change. Karen utilizes her individuality to her advantage. “For me” she states, “my own multiracial background has established a foundation for growing beyond one specific racial or ethnic boundary. My diverse background (Afro-Cuban father and Afro-Indian mother) enables me to assimilate and truly appreciate the blessings multiculturalism brings.” Her diverse makeup was only one of the reasons for her success.
Karen knows that everyone has a calling, a passion that they need to pursue and re-evaluate as they grow in their personal and professional lives. Investing in the professional development of others is crucial for Karen who also serves as a role model and mentor. “In my continuous rise to the top I appreciate the mentors who helped me acquire the confidence to step out of my comfort zones and opened doors for me. That’s what enabled me to obtain the access and success. I want to be the best I can with what I have; I want to do well and do good and I have done so,” she says. Karen has dedicated her time to training, inspiring and connecting individuals to opportunities. “There are highly skilled, wonderful, talented people; sometimes we need to bring them into the limelight in order for them to shine,” says Karen “Every person deserves to be treated as a potential genius.” Karen and her staff teach that message and help many explore that untapped potential.
If she could give everybody one thing to make their quality of life better, she would give them passion. “When you have passion,” she states, “life is worthwhile and it’s easier to get up every day.” “I don’t think a lot of people have tapped into what they have within themselves. Maybe they want to be the greatest pianist, but they are not going to give themselves the chance because they have a pretty good job teaching school and have the pay coming in. They have to find their passion,” she concludes. From a very young age Karen knew she wanted to become a lawyer. Her family encouraged her to follow her dream. She was told that whatever it is that she did, do her very best. The bar was set high by the previous generations of her family including Sir Francis Nethersole who served as the communicator in the royal courts. John M. Nethersole, Administrator- General in the Ministry of Justice from 1899-1935. The Honourable Noel N. Nethersole, one of the founders of the law firm now known as NUNES, SCHOLEFIELD, DeLEON & CO. Noel was solicitor of the Supreme Court of Jamaica WI and employed the first female attorney, Daisy Chambers. He established the People's National Party with Norman Manley and his statue stands tall in front of the Bank of Jamaica building as he served as Minister of Finance in Prime Minister Norman Manley’s administration in the years 1955 to 1959. Tessa Prendergast, the designer responsible for the world’s most celebrated bikini worn by Ursula Andress in the James Bond film Dr. No (an updated version of the bikini would later be worn by Halle Berry in "Die Another Day)." "Family is so important. In the end, it’s not even about you, the individual. I believe it’s ones’ duty to honor its legacy and those who have helped you become who you are as a person." Karen states. She values the importance of strong relationships and those relationships have contributed to her continued success. The key to positioning, transitioning and succeeding in your career, Karen maintains is creating and continuously developing a strong network of support.
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Launched in 1999, DiversityBusiness, with over 50,000 members, is the largest organization of diversity owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, and colleges and universities. DiversityBusiness provides research and data collection services for diversity including the "Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities", "Top 500 Diversity Owned Companies in America", and others. Its research has been recognized and published by Forbes Magazine, Business Week and thousands of other print and internet publications. The site has gained national recognition and has won numerous awards for its content and design. DiversityBusiness reaches more diverse suppliers and communicates more information to them on a more frequent basis then all other organizations combined. We also communicate with mainstream businesses, government agencies and educational institutions with information related to diversity. Our magazine reaches over 300,000 readers, a monthly e-newsletter that reaches 2.4 million, and website visitors of 1.2 million a month. It is a leading provider of Supplier Diversity management tools and has the most widely distributed Diversity magazine in the United States. DiversityBusiness.com is produced by Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. (CCAii.com) of Southport, CT. Founded in 1980.
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