Kimberly Ouimette Sama, a global citizen and passionate advocate for systemic change, is the Senior Director of Network Impact at StriveTogether. In this role, she leads key strategies to enhance the progress of Cradle to Career Network members, focusing on achieving better, faster, and more equitable outcomes for young people. Her career, spanning over 20 years and 10 countries, reflects a deep commitment to local action with global impact, rooted in the principles of justice, belonging, and the celebration of diverse cultures.

Kimberly’s career includes roles such as the Chief Finance and Operations Officer at UP Partnership, Chief Innovation Officer at Family Service Association in San Antonio, International Managing Director at Muso in Mali, and Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Manager with the International Rescue Committee in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. These experiences have honed her expertise in program design, policy implementation, organizational systems-building, and collective impact.

Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in social work, Language, and Culture from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from St. Mary’s University, and an Associate Coaching Certification from the International Coaching Federation. Now residing in San Antonio, Texas, on the traditional lands of the Coahuiltecan peoples, including the Papaya, Lipan, Apache, Tonkawa, and Comanche, Kimberly continues to build community and foster connections within her local and global spheres.

Kimberly’s commitment to health system transformation is driven by her experiences in Mali, where innovative approaches significantly impacted child and maternal health, and her personal connection to the 22q community. She believes in the power of community and advocates for integrated care models that merge health services with comprehensive social, emotional, and educational support.