Forty Over 40

Forty Women to Watch Over 40

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 9Qs for Karen Carter, Global Business Director, Packaging and Specialty Plastics, The Dow Chemical Company

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This week’s Q & A is with Karen Carter, Global Business Director, at Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics business is the highest-ranking woman reporting to the business president and serves on the global leadership team for this $12 billion business.

1. What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

The two years I spent living and working in China was pivotal for me personally and professionally.  This time allowed me to grow and stretch in ways I thought were unimaginable.  I was working in a new business, had a new role, I was in a new geography and experiencing a new culture – all at the same time.  But the experience was amazing! It has been hard to duplicate the energy and complexity of that assignment.   I firmly believe that everyone that can and has a desire to live outside of their home country should do it at least once.  The amount of diversity that the world has to offer is unlimited.  But at the same time – our basic fundamental needs and desires are not that different. The appreciation of diversity and desire to focus on similarities and capitalize on differences can truly accelerate solutions to some of the greatest challenges our generation faces.  I take this experience and what I learned during it – with me into all new challenges and opportunities that I face.  It allowed me to discover how far I can really go – and how enjoyable the journey can be.  This experience was further enhanced because I was able to share it with my husband who enjoyed it as much as I did.  In one word – ADVENTURE!!

2. What is your biggest goal right now?

Personally I am working on a project with 2 colleagues and 2 external local organizations to prepare, develop and hire individuals that are looking for viable employment in a neighboring community in Michigan.  The unemployment rate in that particular community is fairly high and the evolution of the manufacturing industry has had a negative impact.  So the program is aimed to help individuals develop and/or refine their skills and ultimately match them with open jobs at local companies.  We just finished our first class and over half of the participants are now employed!  Our current goal is to secure funding for the 2nd class to start in the fall of 2014 and to exceed our success rate of the 1st class! Sustainable employment has the potential to change families and communities!

Professionally – my biggest goal can be summed up in one word – GROWTH.  Growth for our company and business through the marketing efforts and amazing team that I lead, career growth to increase my enterprise wide contribution and impact – and personal growth to continue to improve my skills and competencies to enable my family to reach our life objectives.

Family – My extended family created a “bucket list” a few years ago, and one of our (my husband and I) biggest lifetime goals is to be able to enable as many of those wishes as possible!!

3. How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

This is very easy to answer – with my family!  I’m the youngest of 3 girls and many of my family members live in Wichita, KS.  The best time I had recently was when I went home to help my mother with her annual garage sale.  At one point, my sisters and I were sitting on my Mom’s porch together – just sitting, talking and watching the cars go by.  It was the most amazing feeling!  People often ask me, ‘which is the place I like the most out of all the places that I’ve traveled to around the world?’ And my answer is always consistently – wherever my family is.  Going home for me is like going to the gas station – because it fills me up with so much joy and satisfaction!  I am with my Kansas based family at least twice a year if not more, but I connect with one of them on a daily basis.  Technology has made this much easier to do.  Yes – my mother does text, but not while driving!!

4. What was the last business book you read?

I don’t read books from front to back…and so I am in the process of reading 2 books:
The Big Pivot by Andrew S. Winston
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

5. What song can’t you get out of your head? 

“Just Do You” by India Arie – if you haven’t listened to this song, you should.  The lyrics are extremely motivating!  I spoke at a women’s conference recently and opened with this song – and women continue to inquire about it because it spoke so loudly to them!

6. What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Never eat alone – every moment is an opportunity to network!

7. What is your “keep me going” quote?

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Mandela

8. What is your secret indulgence? 

If you promise not to tell anyone….The Golden Girls sitcom!  Believe it or not – I have all the seasons on DVDs…and I watch them, a lot!  It represents great writing and gives me a lot of laughs!

9. Who on the list of 2013 Honorees would you like to meet?

All of them!  If that isn’t possible – Dr. Alissa Johnson, Fara Mohamed, Kimberly Bryant, Rachel Sklar, Stacy Ratner, Wendy Clark

Check out Karen Carter’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson

Whitney is the author of the acclaimed Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream. She has been named on numerous Smart Thinkers and People to Follow lists by major media such as Inc. Magazine, Business Insider and Huffington Post and is quoted in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fast Company, Forbes and more.
Whitney Johnson