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Women of power and influence

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, Black PR Wire and Women Grow Strong have team up to honor and recognize women who have made a profound impact in the lives of hundreds of people on a local, statewide, national and even global level. This special feature edition of Power Profiler takes a closer look into the lives of these incredible women and champions for change.

This week’s feature profiler is Carla Harris, CEO of ImageWorks Consulting Firm, in Washington D.C.

ImageWorks is a professional development firm with a focus on improving the image and employability of job seekers in urban communities. What started as an image consulting firm became the first firm of its kind to merge image training with workforce development training for marginalized job seekers.

“I am motivated by the fact that I am living the mission I was created for. Helping others be the best ‘them’ they can be. I love watching people transform themselves. Encouraging others to believe they can be what they want to be is what makes my ‘job’ so fruitful,” says Harris.

Harris has been working in the area of professional and workforce development since opening her business back in 1997.

But Harris’s road to success, just as with all business, has its own share of challenges.  For hers, perhaps one of the greatest challenges was to maintain optimal cash flow and the ability to work “on” the business while working “in” the business. As a single parent to a tween and insuring her daughter is well cared for has helped position her to refocus on how to approach business in the Washington, D.C.

Through it all, Harris is a skillful and highly successful overcomer.  Since the start of her company some 20 years ago, she’s acquired the skill set to effectively manage her company’s resources better and her hard personnel decisions have improved. She is dedicated to continuing the mission that she so passionately believes in, and she surrounds herself with people who can contribute to the company’s success, and who challenges her to think outside the norm.

Harris is a woman of faith. Her whole life is a walk of faith and when she listens to the voice of God, she moves in the right direction. Her scripture is Jeremiah 29:11, because she knows that God knows the plans He has for her, and she takes great comfort in that.

When asked what she’d like to share to other women, she told us this: “Stay the course! Don’t give up! When you know that you know you are doing what you were “made” to do put your blinders on and keep moving. Pray. Listen. Heed. Open your eyes to who’s around you. My goal with ImageWorks is to bridge the gap between marginalized groups and employers; I encourage you to reach back, reach up and reach down to help someone. Keep paying it forward. It will come back a million fold.”

To learn more about ImageWorks Consulting Firm, visit their website at www.isyourimageworking.com

To reach Harris, you can contact her directly via email at Carla.Harris@isyourimageworking, or via telephone at 202-450-4246.

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