Check Out Kareem Edwards’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kareem Edwards.

Hi Kareem, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started in the small yet vibrant twin island of Trinidad and Tobago.
My mother was always my role model, having seen her overcome so many obstacles. Even at a tender age I wanted to model my drive after hers and make her proud. After wrapping up secondary school and a brief stint in trade school, I took the leap of faith and came to the United States to pursue a future and fulfill my dreams of having a big family and house with a white picket fence.
My journey in the United States started off with T-Mobile at the Topanga Canyon Mall. I always pushed myself to want more for myself.
I was living with my mother at the time, but did not want to continue to rely on her as I knew she had her own life to live. I left school and focused on starting a career and shortly thereafter moved out.
I had many jobs from working at real estate companies doing sales, FedEx office, then a printing company Digital Room.
Once again, I had an overwhelming urge to seek more for myself after being with Digital Room for eight years.
I went to school at UEI Encino and graduated with honors from an HVAC program. With those newfound skills I was able to get into the property management field.
From there, I worked myself up the ranks from a tech to a senior manager in charge of milti-million dollar assets.
I have always held my head high with pride, knowing that I always try to do things the right way, avoiding shortcuts.
I model my work ethic after my mother and continue to do that.
Life has had its highs and lows for sure, but after meeting my wife KaLaam, she motivated me to always shoot for the stars and bulldoze through obstacles in my path. We shared a deep love for each other that eventually birthed a beautiful son, Kalel.
After Kalel’s birth, my focus and vision was intensified, knowing that I was close to achieving my childhood dreams.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It surely has not been a smooth road.
Naturally, coming from a small island to a continent as competitive and different from what I’m used to, the culture shock was real.
It took a while for me to adjust.
I’ve been looked over for promotions, taken for granted, scammed, learned what prejudice and racism looked like firsthand.
Although many might see the always positive version of me with a smile, deep down, I suffered from imposter syndrome and battled bouts of depression trying to fulfill my own expectations.
After the birth of my son, both myself, and my wife suffered from postpartum depression.
It took a humongous toll on our marriage.
I had to take a step back from my senior management role to realign myself and to heal mentally.
I had such a perfect and pristine vision for how I would succeed in having a family and creating a great life, but I was in no way prepared for the stress that it came with.
Parenthood forces you to grow as a leader and a partner.
As a man maneuvering through these times, it is very difficult to find inspiration and resources to guide you when life throws a wrench in your plans. I lost many friends who weren’t growth focused, which left me isolated.
My saving grace was that same drive that I modeled from my mother to continue going and to persevere throughout any obstacles. I found a group called the Daddy Stroller Social Club where father get together and offer support to eachother while we navigate parenthoiod ourselves. This gave me purpose and inspired me to look at my challenges as oppurtunities to help others overcome them.
My wife and son also gave me the necessary energy boost in times where I felt like I had nothing left.
The world often does not warn or prepare you for a lot of things that you might face in your journey. That is why it is important to have a strong foundation and support system so that you can dig deep inside of yourself to extrapolate the things that you need to facilitate that growth and overcome.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a Senior Manager of operations for management companies, I am specialized in the trades which range from HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, as well as encompass intangible skills like leadership and mental resilience. Having to manage the operations of multimillion dollar assets it is imperative to have the skills to manage budgets, address issues from small to collateral, and to be able to reproduce yourself through your team with training and guidance.
I have always stood out from my peers due to my level of professionalism.
I am also known for my patience and empathy of others which has helped me procure relationships that facilitated my success.
I am most proud of myself for being able to follow my mother’s lead and persevere even in the toughest situations. I have had to reinvent myself to be able to get past certain obstacles in life and having the resilience to do so and stay motivated set me apart from most.
As many may know, as small as an island of Trinidad and Tobago, we have a global footprint due to our level of patriotism, pride and our ability to generate happiness and positivity from any situation.
We are the happiest country in the world.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I can be reached on social media @kareemj.edwards on IG.
@daddystrollersocialclub_la
@daddystrollersocialclub
@blacklivessupport

I have done freelance work with Target for commercials and quite a few wedding shoots for independent photographers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kareemj.edwards
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbizzlez
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Kareem-Edwards