40 under 40 — What it means to me

Kimberly R. Hill
3 min readSep 28, 2018

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 — I was at a high school graduation party and the clock read 8pm. Applications for the nomination were due at 9pm and I still needed to finish typing in a few answers. I stand up to walk out and submit my application, but it’s the exact moment when the family starts giving toast to the graduate. It’s now 8:30pm.

Fast forward through tears and the crowd transitions to do the Wobble (ayee!) so I step into the the hallway, find a table and type as fast as possible. “Thanks for your application!” is the message I receive after pressing submit. I do a quick time check and the clock and read 8:58 pm PST. Whew I made it.

I stepped out right after the speeches from the student’s parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles were given and tears were shed. There wasn’t a person in the room who didn’t have a huge grin brimming of pure joy. There is nothing like family or friends who take you in as family and seeing the support this young man was receiving from his family was powerful. It reminded me of the scene from Black Panther when T’Challa is being crowned and everyone in the village voted yes. His elders and peers believed in him. And eventually, T’Challa believed in himself.

The past couple of months leading up to the 40 under 40 honoree luncheon have been extremely difficult, but it has assured me that I have the grit, talent, patience, and skill set to thrive, not just survive. I won the Puget Sound Business Journal award for my idea for Amazon to launch a haircare storefront for textured hair. In February this idea launched as Amazon’s Textures & Hues, a shop for textured hair.

The support I’ve received from my family and friends over the past year has felt like a version of that scene. I’m here because my parents showed me at a young age what advocacy for others looked like in business and service. I’m here because of a friendship formed 2 years ago that pushed me to move past fear and helped me dwindle down from 1000 ideas to meaningful ones for our community. I’m here because my coworker motivated me to speak up about my ideas and wins in team meetings. I’m here because my former manager recognized my writing strength, coached me and gave me the space to flex my muscle in this arena. I’m here because my current manager, who I could nickname my paper writing partner-in-crime, partnered with me.

To my team — thank you — I’m here because of you.

I believe that nothing we go through is solely for ourselves. We are here for each other and if we aren’t sharing the real version of ourselves with each other then what are we doing?

To me, this award means that I’m just getting started and eyes have not seen and ears have not heard what my future contains. It means that what I once deemed as impossible is now a matter of possible.

If there is only one thing you take away after this — I want it to be this: we only receive these awards when we look out for each other. If you know someone doing extraordinary work in your city, state, job or community group — nominate them. Nominate yourself. Again and again and again.

This is our fight for representation. For equality. For recognition. And the world’s eyes are on us.

The recent high school graduates who aren’t sure what they want to do with their life are watching for inspiration. Your coworkers are watching. Your leadership is watching for you to grow. Whether you know it or not, you are watching yourself to see if you’re really going to take a chance and move on that idea or not.

The time is now and the world is watching.

You see, I’ve lived in Seattle for 7 years and I’m originally from Arlington, TX. The home of the Cowboys, the Rangers, Six Flags — a city that sits between Dallas and Ft. Worth. It’s a city I always knew I’d leave, but there’s nothing like being home and driving down Cooper Street to the Parks Mall.

To me, the 40 under 40 award is an alert to the introverted Black girl on Friday, September 28, 2018, whose riding down Cooper Street in Arlington, TX. The young girl at Texas A&M University whose taking her PoliSci classes and know she wants to leave a lasting, positive impact on the world — you are next. The time is now.

-Kim Hill

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Kimberly R. Hill

Dreamer born Doer. Business Development Tech Professional. Intrapreneur. Book lover. I geek out on all things tech, startup, public policy & e-commerce related.