Alumni | Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, Class of 1999

Kimberly was born and raised in Northeast Kansas City, Kansas, attended public school and graduated from the prestigious Sumner Academy in 1999. She has a B.S. in International Business from Park University and received her Executive M.B.A. in Executive Leadership from Baker University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). She is fluent in English and Spanish. She is also lightly conversational in Swahili, French, Arabic, Japanese, and will be starting a Hmong language class as an honored guest of the local Hmong community. Her passions include an eternal fascination and study of quantum physics, street tacos, seeking chaos to conquer, and building a company that she can pass on to the next generation of disruptors and thought leaders. She has recently been featured as the cover story in the May 2022 edition of CIO Views (https://cioviews.com/the-10- most-influential-ceos-to-look-out-for-in-may-2022/). 

Kimberly’s Thoughts on Being “Great” Being a middle-aged Black woman who has dared to hope for something greater is a journey filled with both triumphs and trials. The audacity of hope means striving for dreams that sometimes feel out of reach, breaking barriers that were never meant to be crossed, and pursuing excellence in spaces where your presence alone can feel revolutionary. It's about carrying the weight of your ancestors' dreams and your community's expectations while forging a path that is uniquely your own. However, with this bold pursuit comes the shadow of imposter syndrome, a relentless whisper that questions your worth and belonging. Despite achievements and accolades, there's an undercurrent of doubt that wonders if you truly deserve to be where you are. The daily battle with imposter syndrome is exhausting. It means constantly proving yourself, not just to others, but to the voice inside that says you’re not enough. It’s the burden of feeling like you have to work twice as hard to be seen as half as good, while also knowing that your presence challenges the status quo in powerful, necessary ways. 

Even in the face of these struggles, hope persists. It’s the hope that each step forward makes the path easier for those who come after, that every achievement is a testament to the strength within, and that, despite the doubts, you belong exactly where you are.