Her Story
About Kim
Kim Ledesma serves as Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President of SLED (State and Local Government) and the Senior Vice President of Global Partners and Alliances at Tanium, a cybersecurity company. She has been with her current executive for over eight years, including two and a half years at Tanium after transitioning together from a prior employer. Her expertise centers on sales support within the tech industry, where she has worked for the past twelve to thirteen years since entering the sector in 2015. Earlier in her career, she started in customer service and progressed through roles including data entry and accounts payable before moving into administrative support approximately twenty-five years ago, aided by recommendations from colleagues. She earned an associate's degree in business while working full time, attending Allen County Community College and Brookhaven Community College at night. Kim values reliability and follow-through, attributing her success to strong networks of women in the industry and mentors who recognized her potential.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kim
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having other women in the industry and strong female executive assistants that I've been able to work with over the years, along with a good network of people. I've never had to search for a job because good people reach out when they find out I'm available. I started in customer service and moved up, and people saw my work and recommended me for roles like administrative assistant 25 years ago.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I don't know that I've ever really received any specific advice, just conversations and observations. Taking it day by day, focusing on each day while looking ahead but hyper-focused on day-to-day.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Tech is a growing and stable industry. I chose it specifically because I could see the growth. But for what I do as an executive assistant, the industry doesn't particularly matter since I can do this role in any industry like finance, services, or PGA Tour.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include growing at a quick pace with AI, which is changing a lot, so you've got to keep up and be willing to learn. Value people with more or less experience than you because they bring different things to the table.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Reliability and follow through are most important. I function quickly and at a high level, and it's important to be surrounded by a team that functions at that same level.
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