In Conversation
Kimora Branch for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Kimora Branch: Every single no that you get truly does put you on your path to success, and it might not be traditional.
What does being an Influential Woman mean to you?
Kimora Branch: Being an influential woman is defined by so much more than your own individual success. Being a true influential woman is going into your community and inspiring and empowering other women to not just accomplish what you have, but to go out there and accomplish even more.
What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?
Kimora Branch: One piece of advice I would give to younger women chasing their dreams is to do it. Take up the space. Put yourself in the situation to be rejected. Sometimes even being in the room is an accomplishment, even if you don't see it. It might be an accomplishment for another young woman. Every single no that you get truly does put you on your path to success, and it might not be traditional. I know all too well what it's like to take a non-traditional path to success, but one thing about it is I wouldn't change it for the world. It was uniquely and entirely mine, and I wouldn't be where I am today without every single rejection, every single night that I wondered if my dream would come true or not. And you know what? I built new dreams along the way too. Every single dream that you have was not put into your heart for no reason.
If you're not going to do it, then who is?
Her Story
About Kimora
Kimora Branch is a nonprofit leader and patient advocate based in Yorktown, Virginia. A recent first-generation graduate of the University of Alabama, she earned a degree in criminology and criminal justice and is applying to law school to begin in fall 2027 with plans to become a prosecutor. After surviving severe sepsis as a freshman in college, she founded her own nonprofit organization dedicated to sepsis awareness, education, and patient advocacy. She has worked alongside nonprofits for the past five years and started her own this past school year. Branch is the current Miss Alabama Collegiate USA and founded the first ever collegiate sepsis awareness organization in North America at the University of Alabama. She recently interned at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, gaining a global perspective on her work. Her efforts are driven by a commitment to authenticity and showing others from similar backgrounds that they can achieve their dreams.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kimora
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice that I've ever received is don't ask somebody to do a job that you're not willing to do yourself. Being on both sides of the process has really helped me from a management standpoint to realize that everybody else has stuff going on in their lives.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to just do it. It can seem super hard, even if you don't have help. ... It's just about waking up one day and deciding to start.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me in both aspects is authenticity. ... I do this to show other women from the same background as me that you really can accomplish any dream that you put your mind to.
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