About Kim

Kim Alexis Newton is an executive turned independent board director, author, entrepreneur and fine artist. Kim is passionate about leadership and innovation and has a unique right-brain-left-brain approach to helping people and companies meet their full potential.

Kim’s credentials make her uniquely positioned to build creative and emotive brands at scale.  During her two decades at Hallmark she ran a $1B business and led global corporate strategy and transformation across a $4B diversified portfolio of top brands across consumer packaged goods, retail and entertainment. She has been recognized multiple times as a top African American in Corporate America.  

As a board director and advisor, Kim specializes in improving business performance through revenue growth prioritization, customer focus, digital capability development, and brand experience. She has more than 20 years of nonprofit board experience. Kim advises several female tech startups and currently serves on the board of Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) Inc. where she serves on the Audit and Nominating and Governance committees. Kim was named one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors in 2021. 

Kim is an exceptional developer of people and teams and has passionately mentored hundreds of leaders including a stint as a contract moderator for Netflix Leadership Programs. Her authentic leadership style that values intense partnership and visionary communication has inspired colleagues at all levels. She has a long-standing history of engaging employees through vision and their personal aspirations to drive measurable profitable results. Kim brings extensive experience in consumer marketing, corporate strategy, business development, omnichannel consumer experience, and digital transformation. 

Kim believes creative agility is an important skill to keep transformation leaders sharp.  That is why she has for the last 20 years left space for creation of her own art, a modern approach to quilting. In 2019, after leaving Corporate America, Kim sold her first piece that now hangs on the wall of Oprah Winfrey. She has sold over a dozen pieces since that time and has exhibited at The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. 

As the founder of Alexis Enterprises, LLC, Kim brings to life all of her passions.  An art studio focused on her one-of-a-kind fine art quilts.  The Intentional Pause™ Project, a platform helping women to embrace pausing to strategize as a powerful way forward enables a transformative personal plan. Her five-step approach comes to life in her first book, The Intentional Pause Dream Workbook. And Alexis Gift Quilts, her produced line of handcrafted quilts positioned as extraordinary gifts for self or others, which achieved over $1MM in sales in its first 9 months. 

Kim was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, received her BA in Accounting from Fisk University and her MBA from Vanderbilt University. She is a proud member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, Black Women on Boards, The Executive Leadership Council, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Incorporated,  Jack and Jill of America, The Links, Incorporated and the 2017 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute. Kim sits on several non-profit boards including the Kansas City Arts Institute and TEDxKC.  

Kim lives in Leawood, KS with her husband, Nikki, and their daughter Piper.