Leading with Purpose: Karin Barry Sagy - Driving Growth, Innovation and Empowerment

Abhiash NaleAbhiash Nale
5 min read

Empowering the Future of Workspaces

In the heart of Israel’s dynamic business landscape stands a visionary leader who is reshaping the way people work, connect, and succeed. Karin Barry Sagy, CEO and Israel Country Manager at International Workplace Group (IWG), exemplifies the essence of Leading with Purpose: Karin Barry Sagy — Driving Growth, Innovation and Empowerment. Her passion for innovation and her transformative approach to leadership have turned flexible workspaces into vibrant ecosystems of creativity and collaboration.

A Journey of Passion and Purpose

Karin Barry Sagy’s career is a testament to strategic vision and purposeful leadership. With experience spanning from boardrooms to modern co-working environments, she is redefining workplace culture by integrating agility, human-centric design, and future-ready solutions. Under her leadership, IWG’s presence in Israel has flourished, creating spaces where innovation thrives and businesses of all sizes feel empowered to grow.

Her Leadership Philosophy

“Great spaces nurture great minds” — this belief guides Karin’s mission at IWG. She is deeply committed to building workspaces that serve as catalysts for collaboration, community, and professional development. Her philosophy exemplifies the theme of Leading with Purpose: Karin Barry Sagy — Driving Growth, Innovation and Empowerment.

Leading with Purpose in FMCG

Karin’s journey into the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry was born out of a genuine passion for consumer behavior and a desire to create impact through strategic leadership. Her early roles in sales, marketing, and supply chain management laid a strong foundation for her future leadership success.

Transitioning to Leadership Roles

As she climbed the corporate ladder, Karin developed a reputation for fostering team collaboration and delivering results. Her ability to manage cross-functional teams and embrace challenges as growth opportunities was instrumental in her professional evolution. Her commitment to empowering future leaders, particularly women, is a cornerstone of her leadership legacy.

Driving Growth & Innovation at IWG

As CEO and Country Manager, Karin is at the forefront of steering IWG’s success in Israel. Her key responsibilities include:

Setting Strategic Direction

Karin aligns IWG’s vision with global goals while tailoring strategies to meet local market needs. She identifies new growth avenues and positions IWG as a market leader in flexible workspace solutions.

Operational Excellence

By optimizing operational performance, she ensures exceptional client experiences and service excellence across all IWG centers.

Team Leadership

Karin builds a culture of innovation and continuous learning, investing in her team’s development to support strategic execution.

Stakeholder Engagement

Maintaining strong relationships with clients, investors, and partners, Karin reinforces IWG’s reputation and value proposition in the competitive business ecosystem.

Empowering Teams with Vision

Karin’s leadership style is grounded in trust, collaboration, and performance. Her core principles include:

Empowerment & Trust

She fosters autonomy and encourages accountability, enabling teams to take ownership and drive innovation.

Open Communication

Transparency and dialogue are at the heart of her leadership. Every team member is encouraged to share ideas and feedback.

Commitment to Learning

Karin promotes a culture of growth, encouraging team members to embrace challenges and upskill continually.

Diversity and Inclusion

She values diverse perspectives and believes that inclusive environments fuel creativity and resilience.

Resilience and Adaptability

Karin inspires teams to navigate change with confidence and turn challenges into opportunities for innovation.

Core Values that Shape Leadership

In alignment with the message of Leading with Purpose: Karin Barry Sagy — Driving Growth, Innovation and Empowerment, Karin’s leadership is anchored in strong personal and professional values:

Integrity

She prioritizes ethical decision-making and transparency, cultivating trust and credibility.

Lifelong Learning

By staying ahead of industry trends and continuously evolving, she leads by example.

Empathy

Karin builds strong interpersonal connections by understanding and valuing individual perspectives.

Goal Orientation

Clear, actionable goals guide her leadership journey and drive measurable success.

Mindfulness and Self-Reflection

Through self-reflection and wellness practices, Karin maintains balance and focus in her leadership approach.

Achieving Success with Balance

Karin believes true success combines career growth with personal well-being. She adopts a holistic approach to leadership by:

  • Setting goals aligned with values

  • Practicing effective time management

  • Engaging in purpose-driven initiatives

  • Building supportive networks

  • Promoting self-care and wellness

  • Advocating for work-life balance within teams

Staying Ahead in a Dynamic Market

To maintain a competitive edge, Karin embraces innovation through:

  • Industry research and conferences

  • Fostering a culture of innovation

  • Customer feedback integration

  • Data-driven strategy formulation

This approach strengthens IWG’s market position and reinforces its commitment to future-ready workspace solutions.

Leading Through Change with Resilience

During a major organizational restructuring, Karin’s leadership was tested. Her response:

Transparent Communication

She prioritized empathy and clarity to guide her team through transitions.

Strategic Agility

Karin’s ability to adapt and lead with resilience helped IWG emerge stronger, reinforcing the importance of purposeful leadership in times of change.

Keys to Impactful Leadership in Sales & Operations

For aspiring leaders, Karin offers the following advice:

  • Build strong customer relationships

  • Embrace continuous learning

  • Encourage cross-functional collaboration

  • Adapt to changing market dynamics

  • Seek mentorship and welcome feedback

Shaping the Future of Workplace Solutions

Karin envisions the future of work as flexible, sustainable, and people-centered. Her strategy for IWG includes:

  • Expanding hybrid workspace offerings

  • Investing in smart technologies

  • Promoting employee wellness and eco-friendly operations

Her forward-thinking leadership ensures IWG remains a pioneer in flexible work environments.

A Legacy of Empowerment and Innovation

Karin Barry Sagy aims to leave a legacy that reflects the essence of Leading with Purpose: Karin Barry Sagy — Driving Growth, Innovation and Empowerment. Her vision is to inspire future leaders to embrace empathy, integrity, and continuous growth, creating a lasting impact across industries and communities.

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Written by

Abhiash Nale
Abhiash Nale