IPN Spotlight: Zak Karim (Senior Vice President, HR Executive at Bank of America)
Zak Karim recently joined Bank of America as Senior Vice President, HR Executive, based in New York. He started his career in NY at Pfizer Inc in strategy and operations which lead him to a career in Human Resources. Throughout his fourteen years at Pfizer, Zahur has supported internal clients in marketing, medical, sales and most recently worked in Pfizer’s R&D division.
Zahur holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia and completed his Masters of Business Administration in Souel, S. Korea at Sejong University, in a Global MBA program with Syracuse University.
What skills have helped you in your career?
The skills that have helped me in my career are: adaptability, flexibility, positive attitude and a “can do” spirit. The skills of collaborating with people and developing quick relationships have also played a key role in my career.
What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
I wish I had sought out more mentors. I always felt, and to some extent continue to feel, that people are super busy and I don’t want to impose. People will always make the time to help. It’s been amazing!
What is next for you in your career?
To learn a new industry, going from Pharma to Finance, and leveraging my experiences to add value at work.
What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
I attend Certificate programs at various universities, participate in conferences, watch TedTalks, and read the Harvard Business Review regularly.
What advice would you offer to others?
Travel the world and say YES to every opportunity that supports your personal and professional development.
Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Career pathing
• Experience building
• Interview preparation
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