Kimberlee Shelley-Ajibolade empowers her community
Brampton Top 40 Under 40 winner is a philanthropist at heart
Kimberlee Shelley-Ajibolade sets the bar high for herself. “No matter where I am or how far I get, there’s another level I can achieve,” she says. The Jamaican-Born HR professional, community activist and author already has a list of accolades to her name at only 29 years old, including being crowned Black Canadian Queen and more recently one of Brampton’s Top 40 Under 40.
Raised by her mother in Jamaica, Shelley-Ajibolade moved to Canada with her father when she was 14 years old. She attended high school in Brampton and became a member of the New Life Kingdom Ministries there. Shelley-Ajibolade was excited about the new opportunity and brought with her a passion for bring an active member of the community in her new home.
Shelley-Ajibolade credits her Christian upbringing for instilling her strong community values. As a child, she watched her mother work hard to give back to the community. “She does so much for so many people and not expecting anything back in return,” Shelley-Ajibolade says of the woman who inspired her to become an activist.
Shelley-Ajibolade’s desire to help others led her to pursue postsecondary education in paralegal studies. While still a student, she offered her paralegal services pro bono in traffic court and helping with landlord and tenant matters. She landed an administrative job at the head office of a security company and was introduced to the HR field. Her passion for working with others made her a natural recruiter and at the age of 27, Shelley-Ajibolade became the youngest branch manager of her recruitment firm, Universal Staffing in Brampton.
Empowering young women
Shelley-Ajibolade is passionate about empowering young women and helping them to find their voice. She co-hosts a show on Gospel Faith TV and is a motivational speaker and author. Her first book Designer’s Original – A woman’s guide to understanding her identity and self-worth in God contains a collection of stories from women who have overcome personal challenges. The book, which was released in February 2018, touches upon topics of body image and encourages women to challenge the assumptions they make about what defines them.
Shelley-Ajibolade also shares her story of growing up in the ghetto in Jamaica. “If I can come through that system and still be who I am today, that’s a victory story,” she says.
Shelley-Ajibolade struggled with seeing violence and crimes being committed around her, but she was determined to not allow what others were doing to affect the way that she wanted to live. She hopes her story can inspire others living in similar circumstances to overcome their insecurities and be proud of where they come from.
Giving back to her community
Using her voice to give back to the community has always been first and foremost for Shelley-Ajibolade. This past Mother’s Day she hosted a community drive, filling baskets with beauty, skin care and feminine hygiene products, presenting them to single mothers living in a local shelter. She also spoke with the mothers about their plans for the future.
Shelley-Ajibolade says single mothers often suffer from low self-esteem, believing that they can’t get out of where they are and that they can’t accomplish what they dream of. She hopes to be able to empower these young women to overcome their challenges and change their life path.
Shelley-Ajibolade has turned her personal struggles into a list of accolades including being crowned Brampton’s Black Canadian Queen in 2017; an award given to young black women who demonstrate strength in character and ability, and most recently, being named one of Brampton’s Top 40 Under 40, a list of young leaders who are making an impact in their community.
Shelley-Ajibolade says her success comes from her willingness to take advantage of opportunities. “The Ontario licence plate sums it up. It says: ‘Yours to discover.’ That’s truly what Canada is. It’s about connecting with the right resources and keeping your eye on the prize,” she says.
Next on the agenda for Shelley-Ajibolade may be a career in politics as she continues to advocate for her community. “What better way to give back and be a part of history and a part of change,” she says.