We’re looking forward to introducing you to Karen Fox. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Karen, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
That is easy, I’m going to be a first-time GiGi in January. You see, we only have one child, as it took us 15 years to carry a child to full term. So, needless to say, my husband and I are ecstatic!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a speaker, coach, and creator of RQ Intelligence™ (Relational Intelligence) and RQ Impact™, transformative programs that help organizations and leaders value the human side of communication. I help teams strengthen how they communicate, deepen their connections, and lead with greater confidence and clarity.
After more than three decades in marketing, leadership, and communication strategy, I discovered one truth that drives everything I do: business gets better when people do. That realization inspired me to focus on the human side of leadership and communication, teaching others how to connect before they direct.
What makes my work different is how I weave neuroscience, relational intelligence, and practical AI into something leaders can actually use. I help organizations bring in technology without losing the human connection that matters most. And I keep everything experiential, fun, and full of real tools leaders can implement immediately.
I’ve been honored to be named one of the Top 100 St. Louisians to Know in Business, a two-time Top 15 Coach in St. Louis, and the Last Story Standing Winner with the National Speakers Association St. Louis. Today, I’m partnering with organizations and leaders who believe that communication is more than words – it’s a connection.
Right now, I’m especially excited about expanding the RQ Impact™ Mastermind, a space where leaders grow their influence, their teams, and themselves while rediscovering the joy of leading with heart.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I would say the person who taught me the most about work would be my mother. She passed away in December 2024. Life wasn’t easy for her as a single parent. My father was an alcoholic, and I believe that became the driving force behind my mother breaking barriers to become the first female buyer in the automotive industry. She needed the income to support both of us, and she believed in doing everything on her own. She was a pioneer in a man’s world and earned a reputation for being the toughest negotiator they had.
I used to call her “the interrogator” because that’s exactly how I felt as a teenager. But truthfully, she taught me that if you want something, you go after it. She believed in high morals, integrity, loyalty, and always being true to your word. I was blessed with an incredible example.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I have been through a lot of trauma, and I know without God I would not have survived.
The defining wound of my life came on July 4, 2003, the day, or should I say the moment, everything changed.
That evening had been filled with fireworks, laughter, and family. Life felt perfect: a career I loved, an amazing family, a strong sense of independence, and the joy of being a wife and mother.
Driving home, out of nowhere, headlights were coming straight at us. I thought they were going to miss us. They didn’t.
The crash was devastating for me as I took the brunt of it. A broken neck, crushed knees, a shattered wrist, and a traumatic brain injury. In just a split second, my body was broken, my mind clouded, and my future uncertain.
When I shared with my neurologist that I was having a difficult time remembering my past, he told me, “Whatever memory you have now is all you’ll ever have.”
But I knew he didn’t have the final word – GOD did.
Healing wasn’t just about my body; it was about reclaiming my identity. For three years, I fought through therapy, pain, and the fog of a traumatic brain injury. There were moments of deep despair. I was angry, confused, and even questioned my worth. I remember crying out, “God, I know we’re not supposed to ask why, but why did this have to happen?” There were dark days, days when I thought my family might be better off without me. But thankfully, God didn’t leave me in that despair.
The turning point came when I looked in the mirror one day and didn’t recognize the woman staring back. That’s when I made a decision:
I would NOT be a victim.
This would NOT define me.
I WOULD overcome.
I started small. I celebrated every little victory, every step, every memory regained, every piece of my life I could rebuild. One of my proudest moments wasn’t glamorous or public, but it was the day I could pull up my panties all by myself. For me, THAT was a GLORIOUS day. That small act of independence felt like I had won a championship in a game no one could see.
Through it all, I learned that progress isn’t always big and bold; sometimes it’s quiet and relentless.
Doctors said I’d never regain what I lost. They were wrong.
I didn’t just get my life back. I took it back.
I learned that faith, humor, and stubborn resilience are powerful medicine.
Now, I use my story to remind others that in any situation, they, too, can rise from adversity. The same six inches between our ears can break us, but it can also build us if we fill our minds with faith, hope, and determination.
My healing came when I stopped asking why me and started saying Watch me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that your education and bank account determined your worth. For years, I really struggled with that, and I worked hard to prove that was true. I may not have letters behind my name, but I’ve invested heavily in training, certifications, and personal development. I often joke that with all I’ve spent, I probably could have paid for my PhD by now.
I’m not against education. In fact, our daughter Kami will complete her master’s degree this December, and I couldn’t be more proud. Life has taught me something more profound. Education and titles may open doors, yet they don’t define success. True success is found in how you view yourself and in the way you honor, uplift, value, and treat the people around you.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I made them feel seen, valued, and capable of more than they believed possible.
That I lived my life with heart, faith, and humor. That I showed up fully, whether on a stage, in a conversation, or over a glass of tea, and that I used every bit of what I had been through to lift others higher.
I want them to say I connected people to purpose, to possibility, and to each other. That I led with love, stood firm in my faith, and left every person and place better than I found it.
And I hope they remember how deeply I trusted God, loved my amazing husband, and thanked God every single day for our greatest gift, our daughter.
If, when I am gone, people can say their life, business, or belief in themselves is stronger because they knew me, then that is the story worth leaving behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karentheconnector.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karentheconnector
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/karenlfox
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenTheConnector
Image Credits
Kara Gamber
Karen Jenkins
Jackie Rhodes
