An Interview with Ricardo Karam

By Sabine Bustros

Ricardo Karam is a veteran talk-show host, author, screenwriter, creative producer, motivational speaker and advocate of promoting Arab achievement and social causes. Since 1996, he has worked with the movers and shakers of the world to inspire Arabs to break new ground in society, culture and business. In 2010, he decided to go beyond storytelling and created the TAKREEM Foundation in order to achieve greater impact. Every year, TAKREEM recognizes the achievements of eight Arabs that have distinguished themselves in the Arts, Culture, Sciences, Environment, Education, Philanthropy… giving them the visibility and support needed to sustain their endeavors. In 2018, he launched TAKminds, a platform that enables change-makers to connect, build bridges and find new ways together to create sustainable communities and destinies for the future generations of the Arab world. Besides being a family man, Ricardo spends much of his spare time adopting and promoting causes, primarily those that are youth, education and health related and boost cultural progress.

1.     In one sentence, who are you?

A dreamer, a fighter, a doer and maybe a changemaker.

2.     In your day-to-day life, what drains your energy? And what gives you energy?

Injustice, shallowness and fakeness suck my energy. The inner peace I have reached is my daily energy. It allows me to find out the essence of life and look forward to new challenges and goals - every single day.

3.     Where and when do you feel most like yourself?

Being a citizen of the world, I feel like myself in every single spot. I love people; I go towards them. I’ve been raised with values of compassion and tolerance which made me not judgmental at all. However, I long to be in spaces where I feel I am respected for what I am (a human being) and not who I am.

4.     Name one thing you are grateful for.

My consistency with the values I carry - which is essential for the road I have embarked on.

5.     Why did you choose to become a journalist?

I did not. Journalism picked me. Weirdly enough, I found myself in a world where the quest for truth is a common goal, but it is achieved with different tools. I picked the most complex one. Journalism opened doors and set boundaries. It made me reach the stage of curating knowledge.

 

“I dream of a world where corruption is illegal, a world where officials are held accountable for their actions. I dream of a world where nature is preserved, healthcare is provided, old people are respected, voices of youth are heard, women are honored to make their own choices… a world where countries uphold individual freedom.”

 

6.     In hard times, what keeps you going?

The image of my family who faced so many upheavals but overcame them with love and unity. This is where I pump my fuel from.

7.     Which question would you like to be asked about Takreem? And can you please answer it?

“How were you able to make it in a region where transparency and credibility are lacking?“ My answer would be that this is what made TAKREEM a leading Foundation.

8.     Why do you think the Arab world is so widely misunderstood? What can we do to change that?

The different regimes have worked in that direction. They were careless, and people have been blind followers. I dream of a world where corruption is illegal, a world where officials are held accountable for their actions. I dream of a world where nature is preserved, healthcare is provided, old people are respected, voices of youth are heard, women are honored to make their own choices… a world where countries uphold individual freedom.

9.     How would you like the Arab civilization to continue to influence the rest of the world?

It always has. It always will. Great minds from our region have invaded the world and revolutionized all fields. Our impact and footprints are all over. We need to remember that and highlight these actors of change…Being Lebanese, I want the West to remember that Lebanon is a place of beauty and dreams, of enchanting valleys and of splendid mountains.

Sabine Bustros is an author-journalist-observer-curious-cautious optimist dreamer. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.