Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kym Ali. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Kym thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
When I decided to pivot from nursing to becoming a DE&I consultant, I was taking a huge risk. The pandemic had caused healthcare facilities to be inundated with patients, and I knew my expertise could be put to better use elsewhere.
So, after much thought and consideration, I chose the energy sector as my niche area of focus. At first glance, it seemed like a crazy idea: why would anyone want to specialize in one industry when so many others offered greater opportunities? But then something occurred to me: if you become an expert in one field, your knowledge can easily translate into other industries.
And that’s exactly what happened! After just six months of focusing on DE&I in the energy sector, people started coming out of the woodwork asking for my help with their projects – ranging from oil and gas firms to solar energy companies! It was amazing how quickly word spread about my newfound expertise across multiple industries.
Nowadays, I’m proud to call myself an expert Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant specializing in the energy sector – something that initially seemed like too risky a venture but is now paying dividends beyond my wildest dreams!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Five years ago, I never would have imagined I’d be in my current position. From humble beginnings as a nurse of 17 years to becoming an advocate for diversity and inclusion within energy leadership teams across the globe. It all started with my own experience of facing systemic racism while living overseas, followed by the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder later that year—I knew something had to change for us to move toward progress and education.
So it was then that my journey began as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant, advocating for those who were unable or too afraid to speak up due to fear of retaliation. With an unwavering dedication and passion for inspiring social justice through corporate decision-making, I soon found myself helping energy companies create more inclusive environments from recruitment processes through employee retention initiatives to meet the NetZero 2050 goal.
Throughout this new career path, there have been moments where I have doubted my abilities but ultimately persevered thanks largely in part due to incredible mentors who continue guiding me along every step of this journey—allowing me not only stay motivated but also inspired no matter which direction life may take me next!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Three years ago, I was living my dream life as a successful nurse consultant in Qatar. I had been there for five years, and it was like home to me. That all changed instantly when I received the news – I’d been fired from my job due to systemic racism. All of the life and friends that had become so dear to me were taken away overnight with no warning or explanation.
The company placed a travel ban on me until I could pay over $20,000 in debt that they claimed I owed them – leaving me stranded in Qatar for three weeks with very little idea of how things would turn out. It felt like my world had come crashing down around me; not only did it threaten my financial security but also put my physical safety at risk too.
Finally after those long weeks, through some miracle of resilience and determination, I managed to get back home safely – only to be met with more tragedy two weeks later when my beloved niece passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. In this dark moment it crossed my mind: “life would be easier if wasn’t here…” But then something inside reminded me that God brought me through such a difficult time so that one day I could use what happened as fuel to help others create positive change within their own lives and workplaces – which is exactly what now do every single day!
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
When I first started my business, I was determined to make it a success. As a woman of color, I knew that access to capital would be one of the biggest obstacles in getting off the ground. However, with some hard work and dedication, I was able to use the income from my full-time job as seed money for my business.
I worked tirelessly both at my job and on building up my business simultaneously until eventually I had enough clients to reduce my work hours and focus more on growing my business. It was challenging but incredibly rewarding when this transition finally happened because it meant that all of those late nights were worth it!
Nowadays, not only is my company thriving but also so are many other businesses owned by women of color who have made strides in creating successful enterprises despite limited access to capital. And while there’s still much progress needed in terms of breaking down financial barriers for entrepreneurs like us, every step taken towards bridging this gap has been invaluable for our community as a whole.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kymali.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/diversityinenergy