KIA BICKHAM, 34
Chief service officer,
Office of the Mayor/City of Baton Rouge
These days, Kia Bickham plays a central role in the office of Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden. She’s the one tasked with strategic implementation of the BR Proud program and serving as chief adviser to the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, overseeing Holden’s community outreach programs. Before that, though, she was involved in the administrations of Mitch Landrieu and Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. She’s active on behalf of Southern University as state director for its Alumni Federation.
Inspiring book: Leadership Is an Art
This book by Max De Pree was given to me by my first boss in the public sector. It taught me the importance of building relationships, to not be afraid to be creative, to encourage others to live up to their potential and to always say thank you.
Major professional accomplishments: Secured more than $100,000 in grant funding for the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and the Mayor’s high-impact volunteer initiative, BR Proud. Designed and implemented Love Our Community, the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program that hired more than 200 youth between the ages of 14-25 for the past two summers to fight blight through environmental stewardship projects and mural arts. As a result of the program, approximately 7 community gardens have been built and impacted; and under the guidance of professional artists, more than 15 public art projects have been completed on blighted properties across the city. In addition to these projects, through this program, the youth participants received professional development and soft skills training as well as completed service-learning projects. The program was also the recipient for the 2013 Louisiana Municipal Association’s Community Development award.
Advised the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council to host their first Youth Fitness Challenge in partnership with BREC. Directed the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council to write, record and produce an original song with a music video to promote healthy living among youth made possible by a grant that she wrote and received from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. This music video is available on YouTube and was shown at our local AMC movie theaters at the Mall of Louisiana and O’Neal Lane.
Led numerous volunteer neighborhood revitalization projects through the Mayor’s Love Your Block initiative that have resulted in the following over the past 2 years: Impacted approximately 30 neighborhood blocks, transformed more than 69 lots, created and/or enhanced 50 green spaces, collected and disposed of over more than 4,500 pounds of litter, engaged more than 2,100 volunteers to perform more than 7,500 volunteer hours to the Baton Rouge community, partnered with more than 60 organizations.
In partnership with the Big Buddy Program, engaged more than 100 volunteers to help more than 200 struggling readers in grades Pre-K through third grade improve their literacy skills through one on one volunteer interaction through the Mayor’s Third Grade Reads initiative.
Volunteer and community involvement: Involvement in multiple Southern University entities and organizations, including the Southern University Alumni Federation; member, LSU Consortium on Civic Engagement; member, East Baton Rouge Parish Extension Service Overall Leadership Council, Louisiana State University and Southern University AgCenter; member, After School/Out-of-School Learning Taskforce; member, Big Buddy Program Day of the Mentor Advisory Committee
PROFESSIONAL
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A pediatrician and an attorney. Somehow I thought I could do both.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? Baskin-Robbins. They have more than 31 flavors.
What is your favorite place for a business lunch in Baton Rouge?Anywhere downtown because it’s close to my office.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? I don’t think I am there yet. I am still trying to achieve.
The old saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Specifically, what are you “being” to make Baton Rouge better? I live my life daily and engage in activities that I hope will make Baton Rouge a better place. Through my work in the Mayor’s office, I am an artist, a gardener, a volunteer, a mentor and so much more. Most importantly, I am working to provide the youth in our community with experiences that they will remember for a lifetime.
What ritual do you do to get pumped up before a big meeting, presentation or pitch? I turn up the volume on my radio and pray that I arrive on time.
What has been the most fulfilling moment in your career so far? The most fulfilling moment in my career so far was when I heard about the impact that the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment had on some of the youth participants and how it changed their outlook on life.
What was your professional aha moment? I was sitting in a meeting and realized that people valued my opinion and input and I really knew what I was talking about.
How many times will you try something before admitting it doesn’t work? I never give up. I will try it a different way until I make it work.
What is your best productivity hack? Music
What did you learn the hard way? To ask questions to make sure you are certain as to what is specifically expected.
TECHNOLOGY
Mac or PC? PC, but I want a MAC
What’s your preferred mode of communication: text or phone call? It depends on the situation; however, I prefer text because I am always on the go.
How low will you allow your remaining battery life to get (in %) before you have an anxiety attack? 35%
How many unread messages are in your inbox right now? Work email = 3; personal = 2,204
What app gets you through the day? Pandora and Candy Crush
Are you quick to adapt to new tech, or did you hang on to that flip phone way after it became obsolete? I love gadgets so I adapt quickly.
PERSONALITY
How many times do you hit the snooze button? Too many to count
Breakfast at home? Breakfast on the go? Breakfast at your desk? No breakfast at all? Breakfast at my desk
Is the glass half empty or half full? What’s in the glass? Half full; water
If you could build a statue downtown, who or what would it represent? I would build something to represent the youth in our community because they symbolize where Baton Rouge has been, where it stands currently and where the city will go.
What’s your motto? To live my life with purpose and encourage others to do the same.
When did you realize you had grown up? When people started addressing me as “Miss Kia.”
Which historical figure do you most identify with? Former Louisiana State Senator Diana Bajoie. Her life as a public servant opened the doors for not just African American women but for all women who desired a career in public service.
Which living person do you most admire? Oprah Winfrey. She’s powerful, humble and giving. She lives her life to be the change that she wants to see.
What is your greatest extravagance? Gadgets. I can’t wait for the iWatch!
What trend do you really wish would come back? Leg warmers. I’ve always wanted a pair.
If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why? 25. You are young enough to not be seen as mature but, old enough to be seen as an adult.
What is your favorite journey? The journey I am on now to a healthier life.
On what occasion do you lie? I try not to, even if it hurts.
What is your greatest regret? I made a professional decision that affected me personally.
When and where were you happiest? Homecoming in A.W. Mumford Stadium with thousands of my closest friends wearing blue and gold.
Which talent or superpower would you most like to have and why? My superpower would be able to fly so that I could go anywhere I want to, quickly.
If you worked for the CIA and needed a top-secret alias, what would yours be? Olivia Pope, because I tend to be a fixer.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To learn how to say, No.
What’s your most treasured possession? My camera.
If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live and why? On a beach, because it’s peaceful, warm and life tends to be easy and effortless.
What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty and honesty
What do you miss most about the ’90s? McKinley Middle Magnet and Baton Rouge Magnet High. Those were the days!
If you had to be a teacher of something, what would you teach Philanthropy and civic engagement
What is your theme song? “Superwoman,” by Alicia Keys
Who would play you in a movie? Halle Berry or Kerry Washington
If you could go back in time 20 years, what advice would you give yourself? Stop hitting the snooze button. Get up and get moving!
What useless piece of information will you never forget? The human head weighs 8 pounds.
What makes you laugh every time you think about it? The moment I fell at work while sneaking donuts to my colleagues before my boss arrived for her morning meeting.
Who’s the most famous celebrity you’ve ever met? Then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama during his 2007 visit to Southern University.
LOOKING AHEAD
What’s the next challenge you have planned? Reaching my short and long term health goals.
Three things on your bucket list: To meet Oprah, travel the world and go to the Super Bowl.
If you have children, what concerns you most about the future they will inherit? I don’t have any children but I am concerned about the future of education and economic opportunities available.
What would be your advice for future Forty Under 40 honorees? Keep doing what you’re doing. Baton Rouge needs you!
Do you plan to be in the Capital Region five years from now? Absolutely.
Why have you chosen to make your home in the Capital Region? I’ve been here for 34 years. And my philosophy has always been that if all of our talent leaves the city, who will be here to help make sure that we grow and live up to our potential.
Have you peaked, or do you think you’ll still have it when we launch our hypothetical “Forty Over 40” awards years from now? I think I will still have it, because I will still be aiming for my greatest achievement.
