Kia N. Gaines

I have over 10 years of experience in the healthcare sector, with a focus on strategy, consumer experience, diversity and inclusion, and process improvement consulting. I have an MBA from the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business with concentrations in Strategy, Operations, International Management, and Organizational Behavior.

I love learning, meeting new people, and trying new things. A native Californian, I enjoy being outdoors and interacting with diverse cultures. I took my first yoga class in 2001 and want to get certified to teach, particularly to the senior population. I'd like to visit every continent- I have Australia, Antarctica, and South America left on the list. I am currently starting a food and travel blog with my sister so we can share our experiences and provide money-saving tips.

Giving back to my communities is important to me and I volunteer regularly with diversity recruitment at both my alma maters. I also enjoy serving food at soup kitchens and community events. Occasionally, I work as a docent giving educational tours at Colonel Allensworth Historic State Park. Lastly, I recently joined Taproot Foundation as a pro bono consultant and am currently working on my first non profit client project.