Shelmina Babai Abji: Expert Empowerment

Quick Facts:

Highlights:

Formats Available:

Preferred Audiences:

Outcomes:
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Seattle, WA
  • **Fee range: On Request

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

If you’re a woman, especially a woman of color, you know this already: You face unique challenges and obstacles as you work to scale the corporate ladder. From not seeing other faces in the room that look like you to dealing with the stereotypes and (often unconscious) biases in the workplace, you may know what to do to succeed, but not how to get it done in this environment. Show Your Worth shows you how.

In pages that are both inspirational and practical, Shelmina Babai Abji speaks directly to professional women—especially women of color—about how the power of being intentional and strategic can help transform the headwinds you face into much-needed tailwinds.

Shelmina Babai Abji is a TEDx speaker, board member, former vice president at IBM, and an angel investor. She started her career as a software engineer and then moved into sales and sales leadership, leading global teams to deliver over $1B in annual revenues and serving as a key decision-maker in hiring and promoting hundreds of professionals.

She received extensive leadership training at IBM, Harvard University, and UCLA. As a global empowerment speaker, Abji has addressed attendees at companies, conferences, and colleges that include Google, Edward Jones, National Center for Women in Technology, Black women in STEM, and Harvard.

Shelmina Babai Abji comes from a small town in Tanzania which did not have education past 10th grade. Driven by her desire to lift herself and her family out of poverty, she was first in her family to graduate college.

When Shelmina Babai Abji started her career, there was no one in the room that looked like her. She was afraid to speak up in meetings and underestimated her worth.

There was no books written for women like her to achieve career success.

Through the many challenges and opportunities she came across, she discovered a blueprint that transformed her career and enabled her to become one of the highest ranking woman of color at IBM while raising her two children as a single mother since they were 4 and 2.

Shelmina Babai Abji

She started her career as a Software Engineer and then moved to Sales and sales leadership. She has led global teams and various businesses in multiple sectors. She has delivered over $1B in revenues annually and has consistently maintained high client satisfaction as well as team morale. She was a decision-maker in hiring and promoting hundreds of professionals.

At the peak of Shelmina Babai Abji career, she left IBM to share her blueprint to help other women transform their careers and emerge as leaders.

Through mentoring thousands of women, speaking at corporations, colleges, and conferences globally, she realized that women are still struggling with the same challenges she faced during her career. They are ambitious and looking for ways to achieve career success.

They inspired her to write a book. Her ultimate goal is to create gender equality in leadership roles.

Shelmina Babai Abji has degrees in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, and Mathematics from Wadia College in Pune, India. As part of IBM’s top talent, she received extensive leadership training at IBM and Harvard.

Shelmina serves on the advisory board of Girl Up, a global leadership development initiative by UN foundation positioning girls to be leaders in the movement for gender equality. She previously served on the board of TiE-Seattle, Bellevue College, and Young Women Empowered.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

Talent Resources

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

You may be interested in...

  • (38)
  • (6)
Tammy Barlette

Retired Lt. Col. Tammy Barlette, and seasoned military pilot, brings a fresh perspective to overcoming challenges with high-stakes mental performance strategies. Drawing on her 20 years of experience in the cockpit of some of the Air Force’s most demanding aircraft, Tammy inspires audiences to rethink their approach to handling adversity and reaching peak performance. Her […]

  • Travels from: Tucson, AZ
  • Military Speakers
  • (29)
  • (5)
Bill Benjamin 3

Bill Benjamin is not your typical motivational speaker. With a background deeply rooted in mathematics and computer science, he stumbled upon a transformative realization while working in the technology industry – the power of managing emotions. This epiphany led him on a journey to become a leading authority in Emotional Intelligence (EI), eventually co-founding the […]

  • Travels from: Chicago, IL
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (11)
Petra Velzeboer - Disrupting Wellbeing

Petra Velzeboer is a celebrated mental health expert, TEDx speaker, psychotherapist, and CEO of the renowned consultancy PVL. Her extraordinary personal journey from a challenging upbringing in a notorious cult to becoming a globally recognized advocate for mental well-being is both inspirational and empowering. Petra’s core message centers on cultivating psychologically safe workplaces and promoting […]

  • Travels from: Atlanta, GA
  • Mental Health
  • (23)
  • (4)
Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman

Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman is known as the The Wingman and a Hall of Fame leadership speaker, executive coach, and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Never Fly Solo. He teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while sharing his experiences as a combat decorated F-16 […]

  • Travels from: Atlanta, GA
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (13)

Dale Smith Thomas is an esteemed professional speaker, revered for her unparalleled ability to connect deeply with audiences worldwide. Renowned for her dynamic blend of transparency, honesty, humor, and warmth, Dale embarks on transformative journeys during her presentations, leaving an indelible mark on each individual fortunate enough to experience her message. As an unapologetic optimist, […]

  • Travels from: Brentwood, TN
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (17)
Julie Foudy

Julie Foudy, former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, is not only a sports legend but also a highly sought-after keynote speaker. With an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades, she has inspired millions through her achievements on the field and her leadership off it. As […]

  • Travels from: San Diego, CA
  • Sporting Speakers
  • (25)
Alli Webb

Alli Webb is the co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Drybar, the nation’s leading blow dry bar offering customers no hair cuts and no hair color, just professional blow outs at an affordable price. After leaving the hair care workforce in 2005 to start a family, Alli looked for an opportunity to continue pursuing the […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Business Speakers
  • (85)
  • (8)
Stephen Drum

Stephen Drum is a highly regarded leadership and peak performance speaker, renowned for his extraordinary career as a Navy SEAL Master Chief with 27 years of combat-tested experience. As a distinguished figure in leadership development, Drum brings unparalleled expertise and insights to organizations and individuals seeking to excel in high-pressure environments. His transformative approach to […]

  • Travels from: Chicago, IL
  • Leadership Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.