Member Spotlight: Kim Shumpert
Get to know Kim and how she is advancing female leadership in our community through CWLI.
SoW: What is your organization and what is your role there?
Kim: Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute — Executive Director
SoW: Give a brief history of your background and education.
Kim: I am a native Chattanoogan who left for college and returned home after 20 years building my professional career. I have both my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Public Administration. I have worked across a variety of sectors including government, nonprofit, education and private. I blend all of these experiences into the work I do now on behalf of professional women in our community.
SoW: Describe the evolution of your organization and where you are headed.
Kim: CWLI is growing. Our mission is to increase the leadership capabilities and influence of women in Chattanooga. The work we do elevates the impact of professional women in our region. Through rigorous training programs, we are cultivated the next generation of female leadership in our area. By celebrating their accomplishments, we demonstrate the effectiveness of women who are successfully blending the many roles they fill.
SoW: Is there something that surprises people about the work that you do?
Kim: We are a highly effective team of women who are genuinely united in lifting one another up and demonstrating what high-quality female leadership looks like.
SoW: When do you do your best work or come up with your best ideas?
Kim: My best ideas come when I am running. I do my best work under pressure. I love watching the final product come together in the last stages and then watching how people are made better by the collective work of our team.
SoW: What do you like to do outside of work?
Kim: I enjoy hiking, running, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
SoW: How has Society of Work benefited CWLI up to this point?
Kim: SoW has been a great place for us. We love being downtown, getting to use the state of the art meeting rooms, and working in a building full of collaborative people and companies.
