Karen Walrond

Karen Walrond used to be an engineer and a lawyer. She was the chief counsel for a multi-million dollar software company. And then she left. Now she’s a photographer, a bestselling author, a speaker, a coach and the creator of the award-winning blog, Chookooloonks. Karen’s mission is to help you look for, and find, the light. This is Karen’s story from a 5-year-old told she had no aptitude for art to a woman whose entire life is about making it.

photos by: Morgana Wingard and Karen Walrond

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Before it was all about love and light and kumbaya. But now I’m like, “Hell no. we’ve got work to do.”

Before it was all about love and light and kumbaya. But now I’m like, “Hell no. we’ve got work to do.”

Some things we talk about…

  • Her first blog, her first book, and her first time making money from her art
  • 3 questions to ask to figure out exactly out who you are
  • Using art to speak up and creativity to make change
  • The value of diversity and the beauty of difference
  • When to share your creativity with those you love (and when to wait) and
  • How Karen launched herself into the paid world of public speaking and a career in creativity

“Whatever art you do, no one is doing it exactly like you. Artists, no matter what background you have, need to get loud because the more diversity there is out there of art and voice the better it is.”

“It’s not about whether you’re weird enough or talented enough or famous enough because then you’re still looking at other people’s story about you. It’s about the way I am right now is enough and I am going to show you that it’s enough and I’m going to live like it’s enough.”

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