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In this final episode of season 2 of the emPOWER Breakfast Podcast, Founder and Host Athene Parker is joined by award-winning director Karen Cunningham for an insightful conversation about longevity, reinvention, and building a career in the advertising and film industry.


Karen’s career spans decades, with multiple creative chapters from early ambitions as an actor, to working in advertising as a TV producer, moving into production as a talent scout and producer, co-founding her own production company Pink Films, and ultimately from there, stepping into a decades long, award winning directing career. Her journey is a powerful example of what it means to evolve, adapt and sustain a long-term creative career.


Karen is known for her emotionally rich, human-led storytelling and her ability to draw authentic performances with her AMAZING casting, often from non-actors. Her directing career began with the award-winning short film “Wonderful World,” created for a children’s charity, which marked a defining turning point and launched her behind the camera, the project sweeping the board at the award ceremonies establishing Karen as an impactful voice shaping the landscape of brands and the ad industry alike.


With warmth, honesty and humour, Karen reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her path, including navigating gender bias as a female director, building resilience through uncertainty, and embracing reinvention at every stage of life.


Together, Athene and Karen explore:


This is a conversation about experience, instinct, and staying power.. and a reminder that longevity in creative careers is not just about talent, but about resilience, self-belief and evolution over time.


The chat is woven around a journey through music and memory. Sit back, relax and enjoy. 🎧✨




🎶 Episode Playlist

Track 1 – Blowin In The Wind - Bob Dylan

Track 2 – Like A Prayer - Madonna

Track 3 – Blinded By Your Grace - Stormzy

Track 4 – Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

Track 5 – Perfect Day - BBC Version 1997




🎧 Listen to the emPOWER Breakfast – Karen Cunningham Spotify Playlist



Karen Cunningham, female director, advertising industry, film director interview, women in film, creative careers, career longevity, reinvention, storytelling, directing commercials, PRETTYBIRD




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","author_name":"Athene Parker"}