Shelmina Abji is a global empowerment speaker, a former IBM Vice President, an investor in early stage technology companies, a distinguished alumni and an advisor to C-suite executives. She serves on boards of United Nations Girl Up, Young Women Empowered and TiE-Seattle.

Shelmina rose up to be one of the highest ranking woman of color at IBM and has the opportunity to lead many different businesses: hardware, software and services during complex transition times. She led start up businesses as well as mature businesses with revenue in excess of a billion dollars annually. She had the privilege of hiring over 1,000 people during her career and promoted/guided the careers of many. She has a proven a track record of consistently delivering on all of her key performance indicators while living a balanced life as a single mother of two children. Shelmina has participated in various task forces to promote diversity and mentorship within IBM and outside.

Shelmina serves on an advisory board to United Nations Foundation Girl Up initiative which engages girls to stand up for girls globally, empowering each other and changing our world

Shelmina also serves on the board of TiE-Seattle : part of TiE which is the world’s largest non profit that fosters entrepreneurship globally. TiE believes in the power of ideas to change the face of entrepreneurship and growing business through five pillars:mentoring, networking,education, incubation and funding.