Karriem K. Kanston calls himself The Encourager, because he inspires and motivates people in their life, career and business. He just doesn’t talk about changing the world, he does it. A motivational speaker, consultant, author, entrepreneur, advocate for underrepresented businesses and a valuable asset to organizations. He is the owner of Kanston Development a management consulting firm that focuses on the areas of business growth, leadership, and economic development. He has a vast array of experiences and has worked in education, retail, and the financial industries. He is also an Army Veteran and Lead Faculty for the 10,000 Small Businesses Program at CCRI funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation. He currently is an instructor for the CVS Health Executive Learning Series for Diverse Suppliers.

Mr. Kanston also has developed workshops and speeches (or lectures or presentations) around leadership & economic development. He believes it is important for people to understand their true purpose in life.

Karriem lives in Rhode Island and grew up in Queens, NY. He graduated with three degrees in business and education from Johnson & Wales University. He has been married to his lovely wife Deborah Pierce-Kanston since 2000 and has two daughters.