IPN Spotlight: Reef Karim (CEO & Founder at The Control Center Beverly Hills)
Reef Karim leads a mission driven life centered on storytelling, content creation and the blend of science and entertainment. Reef’s motto is: “Don’t Be Normal, Be You” and he tries to live every day with passion, creative pursuit and the ability to impact others. The three most important qualities to Reef Karim are: Self Expression, Authentic Identity and having an Original Point of View.
Reef’s Science CV: Double board-certified physician in psychiatry and addiction medicine with an expertise in the neuroscience of self-sabotage and self-empowerment. He is also, UCLA Assistant Clinical Professor & Chief Medical Officer of Vitality HealthTech.
Reef’s Entertainment CV: Television host, feature film actor, international speaker, author & stand-up comic. He has worked with Oprah, Anderson Cooper, & Larry King and worked on Bourne Identity, Shark Tank, Private Practice, Veep, Time, ABC World News & CNN. He recently started Mad Lab; a media, personal transformation & nonprofit company- ReefKarim.com.
What skills have helped you in your career?
I pride myself on drive, ambition and developing a unique point of view. These aren’t just “learned” qualities you can pick up in school; they are “experienced” qualities. Yes, you have to go to school, train, learn information and learn how to connect with others but you also have to live, be willing to fail, experiment with different careers and develop your own sense of self; your originality. The most successful people are not clones; they are originals.
What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
I frequently attend conferences to both skill build and stay current with changes in the field. For me personally, I’m always working on improving myself; improving my ability to host better, act better, write better, speak better and disseminate current, cutting edge information in the most effective way possible.
What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
I wish someone would have told me, on a questionnaire like this, to FIND MY ORIGINAL SELF and not allow other people, no matter who they are, to dictate what I do or what I should believe in. It’s imperative that people don’t succumb to “group think” and instead utilize your unique experiences, background and training to blaze your own path.
What is next for you in your career?
Reef Madness Show, Mad Lab Company (ReefKarim.com) Next, the focus is a bigger media presence; both in hosting our upcoming show, Reef Madness and writing, acting and producing original entertainment content for television and digital media at Mad Lab. Reef Madness is a new late-night talk show & podcast blending science, comedy and entertainment, similar to John Oliver or Bill Maher. He hopes to be able to entertain people, influence people and help people with personal transformation on the screen and stage.
What advice would you offer to others?
It’s hard to figure out what you want to do and how you want to live your life, especially in our current climate of over-stimulation, noise and division. But, you can’t live in fear; fear is paralyzing, it invites procrastination, indecision and distraction. Sometimes that distraction is not doing what you were destined to do. Other times, that distraction is self-sabotage, doing destructive things you shouldn’t be doing that diminish your emotional and spiritual growth. I wish everyone the courage to blaze your own path and the clarity to find your vision.
Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Speaking/Hosting
• Creative Coaching and collaboration
• Media Training
• Self Help
• I also consult with people to build their personal brand story.
Please provide the link to your LinkedIn profile:
Reef Karim
Please provide your preferred email address so interested professionals can network with you:
[email protected]
Region:
West
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