Lara Khanafer, CEO at Kara.ai

Learning Inspiration 🌈 #27

Lara Khanafer built her own company Kara.ai, the productivity app made by salespeople for salespeople. Lara is an expert in sales. She worked for companies like Toucan Toco and Dataiku as Key Account Manager. Get to know how Lara keeps learning every day,  her favorite book, and podcasts.

Who is your biggest source of inspiration?

I have several.

My biggest inspiration is my son. Motherhood is a powerful mirror. It requires me to ask myself the right questions. It makes me an even better person. 

In business, I respect Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington because they have built empires by being true to themselves and making no compromises on their personality. 

I appreciate Oprah because she has a strong sense of compassion that she transmits and shares with others.

I also have a lot of admiration for Maya Angelou, who was also Oprah’s mentor.

A non-person that inspires me is music. I draw new ideas and energy from it.

How do you keep learning on a daily basis?

I dedicate at least 30% of my time to learning and my education. 

I listen to at least one audiobook a week and read two books a month. 

I also use the Masterclass app.

Another significant source of learning comes from talking to people and asking questions. You shouldn’t be afraid to look ignorant and ask how things work and why they are done in that particular way, for me, this is the essence of innovation.

I have auditory memory. I realized I didn’t take notes during my final two years of high school while working on my baccalaureate diploma. To learn, I enjoy watching videos on Youtube and Coursera. It is crucial to adapt your learning style to your predominant memory type.

What is your favorite podcast, and why 🎧?

I don’t have a favorite podcast, but I love The Joe Rogan Experience to mention one. I also enjoy the French podcast Change My Life 🇫🇷 and, of course, Oprah Winfrey’s Supersoul Conversation.

What are your favorite books and why 📚?

This choice is difficult. My first choice would be The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It’s a children’s book, but it has many lessons. You can read it at any time in your life, and it always makes sense.  The books A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf and Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou have particularly touched me. I also love the  French book #collineserrault by Coline Serrault. I bought four copies.

I frequently read business books and illustrated books too.

If you were stuck alone on an island and only be allowed to bring one item, what would it be 🏝?

My son, even if he is not an item. I see him more as an extension of myself. It’s hard to limit yourself, but if I could bring two things I think I’ll bring a painting kit and some music with me.