Karima Mariama-Arthur, Esq.
CS
DC, USAs the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WordSmithRapport™, Karima brings more than two decades of comprehensive, blue chip experience in law, business, and academia to the field of professional development. A leading authority in cutting-edge adult education and professional development, Karima is distinguished by her commitment to excellence through service leadership and next practices alignment. As an expert facilitator, executive communications consultant, and strategic leadership advisor, she trains, coaches, and consults individuals and organizations on the dynamics of complex communication and high performance leadership competence.
A savvy professional development strategist, she provides fundamental guidance on elevating executive brands. Her shrewd ability to identify nuances and empower clients to achieve greater purpose and impact is what makes Karima an indispensable asset to many.
Prior to founding WordSmithRapport™, Karima spent more than a decade working exclusively with corporate litigation based firms where she focused on corporate compliance, commercial transactions, and complex foreign litigation. Introduced to the world of complex litigation while clerking for the late Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., she learned to manage voluminous caseloads and developed an affinity for resolving high-stakes disputes. For the past 7 years she has served diligently as a trusted advisor to the Lawyer Assistance Committee for the Lawyer Assistance Program of the District of Columbia Bar, a confidential program that provides assistance to lawyers, judges, and law students who experience problems that interfere with their personal lives or their ability to serve as counsel or officers of the court.
Bilingual, Karima speaks both Spanish and English fluently. Her foreign language skills have allowed her to perform a variety of highly specialized tasks across industries, including foreign and domestic litigation, academic instruction, and clinical research for the University of California Davis Medical Center and the California School of Professional Psychology.
As an Associate Professor of Political Science and Pre-law Studies at the Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, she developed core curriculum and lectured on constitutional and criminal law, legal research and writing, global issues, and American government. Additionally, she served as an adjudicator on the Judicial Council for Academic Affairs and assisted university counsel in resolving complex issues related to FERPA, Title VII and the ADA. Outside of the SSU academic community, she developed executive seminars for a variety of high-profile organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers, The United States Coast Guard, Office of Equity & Diversity, and the Law Offices of Willie T. Yancey, Sr.
As Chief Operations Officer for Celebrity Chef Jerome Brown (Personal Chef to the Stars) and Hot Grits, LLC, Karima manages complex global operations and is the primary advisor to the executive team. In her previous role as Chief Branding Officer, she developed the company's primary brand architecture and worked to promote brand visibility and impact.
A native of California, Karima launched her academic career at the University of California Davis, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Following graduation, she was awarded an Academic Fellowship at Cornell University, where she joined faculty in researching, evaluating and presenting fundamental issues related to multicultural education. Upon returning from Ithaca, she accepted a position with the legislative and regulatory firm, State Net | California Journal, where she cut her teeth in the field of professional development and liaised with members of Congress, Congressional staff, and executives in the public and private sectors. She earned her Juris Doctor in New England at the Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, RI and clerked for the Honorable Jacob Hagopian, United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Karima is the author of Get Out of Your Way& Stop Sabotaging Your Success and the highly anticipated Boardroom Talking Points: A Guide to Polished Communication for Executives. A regular contributor to BlackEnterprise.com, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's The Village, and Walker's Legacy (a global women-in-business collective), she has elevated the discussion on professional development to "leadership imperative"status. Karima is also is featured on SheSouce, an online braintrust of female experts on diverse topics designed to serve journalists, producers, and bookers who need female guests and sources.
When not coaching executives, Karima enjoys helping young adults to increase self-confidence through communication and leadership excellence.
Karima is an avid wine connoisseur and one of an increasing number of women to join the ranks of wine professionals around the globe. A regular contributor to Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy, she provides relevant expertise on food and wine pairings, viticulture, oenology and current affairs. Her practical experience includes Wine Educator, Paradise Springs Winery; Wine Consultant/Lecturer, BlancNoire; and investment cellaring. Her professional credentials include Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers and Advanced Certification (Merit), Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WordSmithRapport™, Karima brings more than two decades of comprehensive, blue chip experience in law, business, and academia to the field of professional development. A leading authority in cutting-edge adult education and professional development, Karima is distinguished by her commitment to excellence through service leadership and next practices alignment. As an expert facilitator, executive communications consultant, and strategic leadership advisor, she trains, coaches, and consults individuals and organizations on the dynamics of complex communication and high performance leadership competence.
A savvy professional development strategist, she provides fundamental guidance on elevating executive brands. Her shrewd ability to identify nuances and empower clients to achieve greater purpose and impact is what makes Karima an indispensable asset to many.
Prior to founding WordSmithRapport™, Karima spent more than a decade working exclusively with corporate litigation based firms where she focused on corporate compliance, commercial transactions, and complex foreign litigation. Introduced to the world of complex litigation while clerking for the late Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., she learned to manage voluminous caseloads and developed an affinity for resolving high-stakes disputes. For the past 7 years she has served diligently as a trusted advisor to the Lawyer Assistance Committee for the Lawyer Assistance Program of the District of Columbia Bar, a confidential program that provides assistance to lawyers, judges, and law students who experience problems that interfere with their personal lives or their ability to serve as counsel or officers of the court.
Bilingual, Karima speaks both Spanish and English fluently. Her foreign language skills have allowed her to perform a variety of highly specialized tasks across industries, including foreign and domestic litigation, academic instruction, and clinical research for the University of California Davis Medical Center and the California School of Professional Psychology.
As an Associate Professor of Political Science and Pre-law Studies at the Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, she developed core curriculum and lectured on constitutional and criminal law, legal research and writing, global issues, and American government. Additionally, she served as an adjudicator on the Judicial Council for Academic Affairs and assisted university counsel in resolving complex issues related to FERPA, Title VII and the ADA. Outside of the SSU academic community, she developed executive seminars for a variety of high-profile organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers, The United States Coast Guard, Office of Equity & Diversity, and the Law Offices of Willie T. Yancey, Sr.
As Chief Operations Officer for Celebrity Chef Jerome Brown (Personal Chef to the Stars) and Hot Grits, LLC, Karima manages complex global operations and is the primary advisor to the executive team. In her previous role as Chief Branding Officer, she developed the company's primary brand architecture and worked to promote brand visibility and impact.
A native of California, Karima launched her academic career at the University of California Davis, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Following graduation, she was awarded an Academic Fellowship at Cornell University, where she joined faculty in researching, evaluating and presenting fundamental issues related to multicultural education. Upon returning from Ithaca, she accepted a position with the legislative and regulatory firm, State Net | California Journal, where she cut her teeth in the field of professional development and liaised with members of Congress, Congressional staff, and executives in the public and private sectors. She earned her Juris Doctor in New England at the Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, RI and clerked for the Honorable Jacob Hagopian, United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Karima is the author of Get Out of Your Way& Stop Sabotaging Your Success and the highly anticipated Boardroom Talking Points: A Guide to Polished Communication for Executives. A regular contributor to BlackEnterprise.com, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's The Village, and Walker's Legacy (a global women-in-business collective), she has elevated the discussion on professional development to "leadership imperative"status. Karima is also is featured on SheSouce, an online braintrust of female experts on diverse topics designed to serve journalists, producers, and bookers who need female guests and sources.
When not coaching executives, Karima enjoys helping young adults to increase self-confidence through communication and leadership excellence.
Karima is an avid wine connoisseur and one of an increasing number of women to join the ranks of wine professionals around the globe. A regular contributor to Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy, she provides relevant expertise on food and wine pairings, viticulture, oenology and current affairs. Her practical experience includes Wine Educator, Paradise Springs Winery; Wine Consultant/Lecturer, BlancNoire; and investment cellaring. Her professional credentials include Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers and Advanced Certification (Merit), Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
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