Dr. Karen L. Semien-McBride is an entrepreneur at heart. She embarked on her entrepreneurial endeavor early on in her life. By age 12, she was already making plans for her future and started her
own candy business. Now, she is one of the most in-demand executive coaches and business strategists in the industry. As the co-founder and president of MK Circle, Dr. McBride oversees several thriving companies, including CEO Institute, an executive coaching giant.
When Dr. McBride was only 17, she launched her own lucrative floral business, generating significant interest from other business owners. She ended up selling her business and used the money to pay her college tuition. Consequently, Dr. McBride established an impressive college background obtaining a Bachelor in Business Administration, a Master’s in Management and Organizational Leadership, and two Doctoral degrees in Business Administration/Organizational Psychology, Psychology/Management & Consulting and Human Letters Honored for Research.
In the early 2000s, Dr. McBride started a non-profit organization that provided a mentorship program committed to initiating wellness programs, workshops, conferences, and beyond to promote and boost women & personal and professional growth and helping women succeed as entrepreneurs and business leaders in a male-dominated space. The program led to the inception of, the CEO Institute, formerly known as the AORW (Association of Rejuvenating Women). As president and board director of the CEO Institute, Dr. McBride brought emotional intelligence to the forefront of organizational culture. She created an Operational Style theory that gives insight to strategic decision making, effective communication, self-efficacy, and intentional interactions. The theory bore the Operational Style Assessment that explores the theory on an in-depth individual level and helps leaders find their new leadership language. Dr. McBride says, “ I want every person to experience the growth and insight the Operational Style Assessment reveals for your future growth.” The CEO Institute graduated to becoming one of the world’s most sought-after executive coaching programs. The programs offer the Operational Style Assessment, which is crucial to advancing your career and shifting your leadership language for success.
“I started a non-profit to support women’s health and help them grow professionally.”
Dr. McBride also served in leadership roles at multiple highly recognized and top colleges, including California Baptist University, where she was the Director of Financial Aid. She created and managed a budget of over $15 million as the Dean of Students at Chaffey College. Her strong leadership style proved highly efficient, especially in higher education, in that she was asked to become Vice President and a consultant at three more major colleges, including Harford Community College, Pasadena City College, and Phillips Graduate University.
She currently offers 12-month Executive Coaching programs, in which she teaches individuals personal and professional growth. It is a course that gives entrepreneurs the tool to grow a successful business. Dr. McBride also trains employees and executives to become more valuable and well-compensated in their organizations.
Dr. McBride's executive coaching programs have produced a generation of exceptional leaders who have transformed industries using sustainability and innovation while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. “The focus is on building emotionally intelligent leaders and helping them understand and conceptualize the concepts of emotional intelligence with applying self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-motivation,” Dr. McBride says.
Her upcoming book explores the psychological theories and their applications of the operational style assessment, making it the new ‘Leadership Language’ of the 22 Century. “It gives you a deeper insight on how to utilize the theories to benefit how you engage others, communicate, make decisions, and who to fully show up in your professional and personal life.”
Check out her “The Executive Coaching Corner with Dr. Karen” section in Business Matters Magazine.