Karen Richardson is an Associate Director responsible for conducting outreach to the international community, which includes domestically-based advocacy and non-governmental organizations, amongst others, working on a variety of foreign policy issues. Her portfolio also includes conducting outreach to the health care and seniors community, a role she assumed in January 2009 as health care outreach coordinator for the White House Office of Health Reform and the White House Office of Public Engagement. Richardson has also been Senior Advisor to Ambassador Melanne Verveer at the U.S. State Department.
Richardson began working for President Obama at his Senate Office in August 2005, serving as Deputy to the Policy Director. Shortly after Obama announced his presidential run, Richardson joined the Obama for America campaign as the State Policy Director for Iowa, a role she assumed in several states throughout the presidential primary. In July 2008 Richardson became the Policy Director at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and also joined the DNC as part of then-Senator Obama’s Congressional Liaison team. After the presidential general election, she joined the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team.
Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Los Angeles, California, Richardson has a BA from Howard University, a JD from Howard University School of Law, and a Masters in International Affairs from the London School of Economics.
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INTERVIEW | Getting to Know Karen Richardson
What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
I always had the heart and passion of a public servant, and it was just a matter of finding the perfect vehicle when I started working for President Obama in 2005. While it was a combination of experiences that led me to pursue a career in public service, it wasn’t until I started working for President Obama, when he was a U.S. Senator, that I became certain that I wanted to work in the public sector. I observed and learned quite a bit in a short amount of time about politics, the nature of public service, and what it meant to serve, that I quickly became inspired to work in this arena.
What is the key to balancing your professional, philanthropic and social commitments?
Balancing my professional and social commitments has always been somewhat in contention. This is the case especially because I love my job, the people with whom I work, and the work that I do. In this field, however, your work is never finished. You realize that work will always be waiting for you, even after you take one or two hours to go to dinner, to exercise, or do whatever activities you do to decompress. As it turns out, balancing these two things ultimately ends up ensuring better job performance. Time management is also key to balancing these commitments effectively.
What is the biggest mistake young professionals make?
I think young professionals should use their networks strategically and cultivate the relationships with people with whom they have come in contact. This is a fantastic city with many people who have been in this arena for a long time and can offer really sound advice. Cultivate these relationships and don’t be afraid to ask for someone’s time.
What advice would you give other young professionals who desire to excel in the nation’s capital? Specifically, for other young women of color?
If you’re new to the city and to this field, I would spend your first months observing, listening, and learning about the city, the people, and how the government works. While it’s important to socialize with people who have similar interests, it’s important to diversify your networks as well. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and to be assertive in pursuit of your goals. I find that, quite often, young women in our community are hesitant to be aggressive in this regard. In an environment with many well-educated, ambitious, and talented people, don’t let anything hold you back or prevent you from going after what you want.
What’s been the best experience of your career thus far (or the most rewarding)?
I am very blessed to have a job that I enjoy, to work with and amongst amazing thinkers, and to work for this President and on behalf of the American people. I am fortunate to work on issues that are impacting people positively every day. For example, I started working on health reform early on and it has become a passion of mine, particularly having worked on the issue during passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and because I now witness how the law is benefiting Americans, young adults and African Americans included, across the country. I also work with the National Security Staff (NSS) on a variety of foreign policy and national security issues, which impact not only people abroad, but individuals here at home. In short, it’s humbling to work for a cause bigger than myself in this capacity, at this time, and in this place.
Lastly, give me three words to sum up Karen?
Disciplined, adventurous, and loyal.
