Motto: “I live believing I can make a difference, I consider myself a Bridge Builder and Catalyst for Change, this is an inherit part of my character”.
Kimberly “KJ” Haywood has over 25 years of experience in an array of industries, such as finance, technology, healthcare, and government, to name a few. Her career includes launching management and security practices, including her own firms, Knowledge Management & Associates, Inc. and Nomad Cyber Concepts, LLC, which serve nationwide clients.
Haywood’s deep comprehension of compliance and business strategy has afforded her the ability to gain instinctive knowledge and understanding of Cybersecurity, Governance Risk and Compliance. She is known for her ability to create and improve programs and has worked in prominent roles with top organizations such as USAA, Google, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Harris Corporation, Texas Health Resources, and others.
Throughout her career, Haywood has held positions on multiple boards, including that of former Vice President for the ISC2 Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter. Currently, she is the Global Chief Education and Governance Advisor with AI Connex in Dallas and serves as an Adjunct Professor for Collin College’s Cybersecurity Program in Frisco, TX. Furthermore, she is distinguished as an author, researcher, and speaker.
Haywood exemplifies multifaceted expertise across various business sectors, establishing herself as a highly regarded advisor and facilitator of progress. She is celebrated for her role as a dynamic force for transformation. A pinnacle of her career was her historic election as the first African American woman to the Board of Trustees for a School District in Northern California, where her initiatives led to enhanced academic performance, augmented community engagement, and elevated the district’s profile on a statewide basis. Her contributions have not only earned her national acclaim but also the prestigious “Distinguished Field of Service in Education” award from the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), presented by the esteemed Maxine Waters. This accolade is reserved for School Board Trustees who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to education. In recognition of her enduring impact, Haywood’s legacy is immortalized with her name adorning two educational buildings, marking her indelible imprint on the education landscape.