January 1 2024
Episode 1, Part 1 — An interview with “Women of Color Empowered” host Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO, Women of Color Retail Alliance (WOCRA)
January 2024: A note from Inkandescent Radio producer Hope Katz Gibbs and Women of Color Empowered Host Kimberly Lee Minor — Hello friends! We invite you to tune in for Part 1, episode 1 of our new podcast and video show, Women of Color Empowered. “Being empowered is not just a buzzword — it’s a movement,” explains our host, Kimberly, who brings to the airwaves allies and trailblazing women of color from various professional sectors. “Each woman has a unique story that oversteps broken rungs, shatters glass ceilings, and ignites the spirit of empowerment.”
Our first guest: A Q&A with the show’s host, Kimberly Lee Minor
This month’s topic: What it means to empower and be empowered!
About Kimberly: An esteemed leader in the retail industry, Kimberly’s career spans more than 30 years of building brands, achieving operational excellence, and strategizing for business competitiveness. As CEO of Bumbershoot Group, she provides fractional C-suite leadership, leadership development, and process creation. Her work emphasizes inclusive, equitable, and diverse representation across brand, content, product, and customer experiences. Kimberly was named a Top Retail Expert of 2024 by Rethink Retail, recognizing her profound impact on the sector.
Kimberly’s previous roles as President and Chief Commercial Officer at Bandier, Brand President of London Fog, Joe Boxer, and leadership positions with iconic brands such as Express, Footlocker, David’s Bridal, and BBW highlight her experience in global and diverse categories, customers, and markets. Her expertise extends to board work with BlueConic (Vista Partners), a global martech company focused on retail, publishing, and entertainment.
Kimberly’s commitment to advancing women of color in the retail industry led her to co-found the Women of Color Retail Alliance (WOCRA) in 2019. She initially served on the board and now holds the position of CEO. WOCRA is dedicated to increasing the representation of women of color in the retail leadership pipeline through training, leadership development, partnerships, and networking opportunities.
Further extending her influence, Kimberly joined The Ohio State University’s Fisher School of Business as an adjunct professor in 2023. She teaches graduate students, senior undergraduates, and executives. Her community engagement is reflected in her board work, including Dress for Success and Wellbeing Connections, as well as her roles with the Columbus Fashion Alliance, CAPA, NA Citizen Advisory Committee, and the New Albany Community Foundation. These positions demonstrate her dedication to various causes and impact across multiple sectors.
Click here to learn more about Women of Color Retail Alliance: wocretailalliance.org