Dr. Kim Stephens is the founder of Inclusive Thinking – a consulting company dedicated to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion through research, education, and strategic planning. She recently published a book, Assume Nothing: Using Transformational Conversation to Overcome Unconscious Bias.
Before founding Inclusive Thinking, she had a twenty-year career with IBM, most recently as the Global Diversity & Inclusion Communication and Education Lead. She has spoken at conferences around the world and conducted workshops on unconscious bias, cultural awareness, women's leadership, accessibility and other topics.
In addition, Kim is the MPS program executive director at UNC, Chapel Hill. This is a new position established to formalize and build upon the research and clinical work of MPS pioneer, Dr. Joseph Muenzer. Kim’s work focuses on three areas: knowledge share, research, and patient care. Having a son with MPS II (Hunter syndrome), herself, this is also a personal mission for Kim. She frequently speaks as a rare disease advocate at conferences and events and serves as a mentor and resource for newly-diagnosed families.
Kim is also the president of Project Alive, a nonprofit organization that is a powerful voice for children and adults with Hunter syndrome, bringing together families and advocates with researchers, industry, and regulators.
Kim earned her doctorate in business from Georgia State University and focused her dissertation on implicit bias and the role of transformational conversation and social identity on behavioral change.