Page 118 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2023

Karen Sock
The moment in Karen Sock’s life that made the biggest impact on her career was in 1996 when Harrah’s Entertainment appointed her to the position of General Manager at the Original Harrah’s Casino in Tunica.
“That appointment distinguished me as the nation’s first African American female to lead the operations of a full service casino,” she recalls. “I am grateful for all the opportunities that followed and for the skills that I honed and use in my business today.”
After a robust career in hospitality and gaming, she knew the time was right to start Karen
Sock Enterprises. “It was time for a significant change that allowed me to apply all of my experience in my own consulting business. My career in hospitality and gaming allowed me
to develop skills that serve me well as a small business owner,” she says.
Sock likes the flexibility and working with
a variety of companies and organizations. “That gives me new insights, allows me to use my skills to contribute to their success while continuing to learn in diverse settings,” she said. “I have also been fortunate to build some wonderful relationships over the years as a result.”
Using the EGO formula – Enthusiastically Giving Others Opportunities – Sock opens doors for others and aids their development. “I am very proud of the many people I have helped grow their professional careers.”
In her gaming career an obstacle Sock had to overcome was the pressure she felt to perform because she did not have the same educational pedigree as many of her predominately male counterparts. “I was fortunate to work with great teams and we performed at the casino resorts that I led, at number two in Tunica and number three in Biloxi.”
As an early teen she had the privilege to see Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King deliver his “I have a Dream” speech in her home town of Cleveland, Ohio, at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. It was riveting for her and she will
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SOCK ENTERPRISES
P.O. Box 8821, Biloxi 901.651.7167 | karensock52@gmail.com
118 | September 2023
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