Meet Khymberly Booth, a mother, wife, and HR leader. Khymberly just moved to Chicago from Texas with her family after her husband accepted a new role in the Windy City. After being head of HR for a large company in the oil and gas industry, Khymberly has dedicated herself to the consulting practice. We were able to interview Khymberly to find out what her challenges, achievements, and inspirations are to pursue this path in her career.

THE INTERVIEW

What are some of your passions?

I love leadership and team coaching, building HR organizations, and diversity and inclusion. Also, I love data. Data is rich although it can be a bit overwhelming.

What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion?

Honestly, I don’t like hearing it put that way — diversity and inclusion. I think inclusion should come before diversity. We should thrive to building inclusive cultures and cultures that promote inclusivity.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your career?

From a professional standpoint, I am really interested in doing diversity & inclusion work; however, I am not your typical candidate for it. I am a white woman and sometimes it isn’t viewed as fair or I’m not given the chance to talk and work on diversity and inclusion. I want to be able to use my voice as a woman in that field.

What are some achievements that you’ve accomplished?

When I worked for BP, I was so proud to have gotten a board of directors to agree to and approve diversity aspirations and a review of HR processes in order to enhance them for problem solving.

What are your goals for the advancement of diversity, inclusion, and consulting?

I would love for the leaders that I work with to be living and breathing values and behaviors in their companies that reflect inclusion. I would like to see that the companies I work with are recognized for being inclusive rather than for awards they are given.

Who inspires you to have these goals and to take action to make these goals a reality?

My son, who is thirteen years old, is my inspiration. He has down syndrome and inspires me to make sure that all people are looked at for more than what we see but for who they are. I love organizations like Jewel-Osco and Walgreens that give people with disabilities a chance. My dad is also an inspiration of mine. He taught me that I’m no better or less than anybody else — we’re all equal. I look up to him for loving and believing in everybody.