Karen Millie-James

Karen Millie-James was born in North London to a father who had escaped Germany with the Kindertransport in 1939 and a mother who was a talented window dresser and designer in London’s West End. Inspired to do well, Karen studied business and languages at the University of Westminster which led to her joining the legal department of Levi Strauss as European Group Company Secretary. Leaving Levis, for the following ten years, Karen worked for a multi-discipline organisation in Central London but it was always Karen’s dream to set up her own consultancy which she realised thirty-three years ago.

Karen is widely recognised internationally as an expert in corporate affairs and she sits on many boards of directors in an advisory capacity. She has mentored MBA students at the University of Westminster, lectured A level students in schools, given presentations to banks and individuals, and is an advocate for supporting female entrepreneurs in the workplace.

For a time, Karen had her own talk radio show, has participated on panels at BBC Three Counties Radio, and undertaken a BBC radio book tour, culminating in an interview with Claire Balding, and has undertaken many speaking engagements, bringing her expertise, humour, and motivational skills to various business groups, enterprise schemes, local community groups and schools, and has attended book signings in several WH Smith and Waterstones stores.

Karen never intended to write a book but what started as a hobby in her spare time away from the office, working in the evenings until late into the night and at weekends, has now become a new and exciting part of her life. Writing has become her passion, made easier due to her background in business, literature and linguistics and having a vivid imagination.

Karen now lives in the Buckinghamshire countryside with her husband and four dogs and spends her time writing, going to the theatre, travelling and spending quality time with her daughter who is a professional performer.