#WhyWednesday: Khalilah Lyons
We are thrilled to continue our #WhyWednesday series with Khalilah Lyons, a new board member!
#WhyWednesday is a weekly feature of a leader that is involved in our organization. A “why” is the reason they decided to become involved with Female Strong, what female empowerment and leadership means to them, or why they do what they do.
Khalilah Lyons is an inspiration-driven talent strategist devoted to advocating for underrepresented and untapped talent in others. Her HR experience ranges from Fortune 500 corporations and manufacturers to digital start-ups. She has successfully developed and executed initiatives around diversity, equity & inclusion, strategic planning and workforce management.
In addition to her corporate roles, Khalilah aligns her passion to disrupt exclusive narratives and create opportunities for inclusion and diversity for various groups across Chicagoland.
She serves as a Diversity Equity & Inclusion expert for several nonprofits, sharing inspirational and actionable messages as a keynote speaker, mentor, advisory council member, thought leader, board member, coach, consultant, and volunteer.
Her purpose, experience, and zeal drive her to present compelling stories to influence and shift perspectives, and to create spaces for courageous and often provocative conversations.
When not working, she spends time with her two children being inspired by their approach to and perspective on life. She lives life fully as a dedicated mother, sister, friend, and disruptor.
What is Your “Why,” Khalilah?
For me, this goes beyond an organization that does so much. This goes beyond a term that has so much power in its definition alone. It is a feeling that moves me the moment I speak it.
Female Strong means women, young girls owning every aspect of who they are and letting that lead them to be everything they are to be, everything they are to do. It means not just accepting, but appreciating every aspect of our spirit, every experience we’ve had and embracing that as a source of power. This includes the hurdles and the highs.
Female Strong means power that transcends circumstance by always choosing faith over fear.
Female Strong, for me, has no boundaries in its meaning as a noun, verb, or adjective. It is the greatness of who we continue to be as emerging women…at any age.
