PW Classmates: What do you do now for work?
Kimberly: I am the CEO of Women of Color Retail Alliance, a national non-profit focused on closing the gap in leadership progress for women of color in the retail industry. I am also an adjunct professor teaching Strategic Brand Management and leveraging inclusion and equity for organizational excellence at The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business.
PW Classmates: What has your career path been since graduating from PW?
Kimberly: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and Executive Certificates in Leadership and Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Inclusive Organizational Excellence from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
In the years since graduating from school, I have been an executive specializing in building brands and developing strategies to keep business competitive and nimble. I have also been a board director, sitting on several boards, including BlueConic and Power Up. My professional accomplishments range from Macy’s Executive leadership program to Express, where I received the Key Contributor Award to Footlocker Global, where I was awarded the Key Contributor Award for business innovation and team transformation. From Brand President for London Fog, Joe Boxer & Bongo to SVP of Strategy, Merch Operations & Merchandising at BBW, I have strived to grow businesses and to help her teams find their passion.
Most recently, I served as the President and Chief Commercial Officer at Bandier, the premier retailer destination for luxury athletic and athleisure fashion, where she oversees the direction of design, multi-channel merchandising, marketing, production, sourcing, and human resources.
PW Classmates: What is your passion?
Kimberly: As a fashion and retail thought leader and advocate for advancing women and people of color in the workplace, I serve as CEO of WOCRA (Women of Color Retail Alliance), supporting the careers of women of color in the retail industry through hard and soft skills training, leadership development and networking opportunities. I am also a lover of the arts and recently joined the producing team of the Broadway show for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. Directed and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, the Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem was nominated for seven Tony awards.
PW Classmates: Tell us about your family.
Kimberly: I am married to Marc and have two beautiful sons. Jonathan is a senior in college who is a ranked scholar at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Carter is a freshman at the UC Conservatory of Music. We live in New Albany, OH, with our dog, Blu – a steel-eyed Weimaraner.
PW Classmates: What did you dream of becoming when you were in high school?
Kimberly: I wanted to be a famous talk show host.
PW Classmates: What advice would you give to your high school self?
Kimberly: Don’t let naysayers get in your head. Apply to your dream schools, stay the course, and bet on yourself.
PW Classmates: What advice do you have for others about creating your best life?
Kimberly: Your true best life is yours; no one else can make it happen. Do the work to fully learn who you are and then determine what is important for you. Make mistakes, fail a couple of times, and take notes along the way so you don’t stay in the same space if that isn’t what you want.
PW Classmates: What would you like to say to all of your classmates today?
Kimberly: It has been a while! I hope everyone is healthy and living their best life.
Kim is our star: Black Lives Matter Radio Show — Be sure to watch and listen to our Inkandescent® interview with Kim on Tony Farmer’s Black Lives Matter Show (above).
Want to connect with Kim? Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyleeminor