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 an acclaimed leadership and empowerment speaker, TEDx presenter, board member, and former Vice President at IBM, where she led global teams generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue. From her beginnings as a software engineer to her rise as one of IBM’s top female executives, Shelmina’s story is one of courage, perseverance, and purpose-driven leadership.
Born and raised in a small town in Tanzania with no access to education beyond 10th grade, Shelmina became the first in her family to graduate from college. Her journey from limited opportunity to corporate success drives her mission: to equip women and underrepresented professionals with the tools to lead with confidence and clarity.
With advanced leadership training from Harvard University, UCLA, and IBM, Shelmina brings evidence-based strategies and lived experience to every stage. She has inspired audiences at Google, Edward Jones, Harvard University, the National Center for Women in Technology, and Black Women in STEM events.
Shelmina’s message blends personal authenticity with actionable strategy—showing audiences how to recognize their value, own their power, and accelerate their leadership trajectory with intention and purpose.
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.
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.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter
In her powerful TEDx talk, Shelmina Babai Abji—former IBM Vice President and global empowerment leader—reveals how embracing fear can become the catalyst for courage, confidence, and career growth.
In this 18-minute, 13-second TEDx talk, Shelmina Babai Abji delivers an inspiring and deeply relatable message about reframing fear as a force for advancement rather than limitation. Drawing on her personal story of rising from a small town in Tanzania to the executive ranks of IBM, Shelmina explores how fear—when faced with awareness and intention—can fuel growth, confidence, and meaningful leadership.
She begins by sharing her early experiences as one of the few women and people of color in global corporate spaces. Initially afraid to speak up, she realized that fear itself could be a compass—pointing toward opportunities that mattered most. By confronting her insecurities, she built the confidence to lead teams generating more than $1 billion in revenue and became a mentor to other women pursuing leadership excellence.
Throughout the talk, Shelmina provides a framework for transforming fear into power.
She encourages audiences to:
Recognize fear as a natural signal of growth and potential.
Reframe self-doubt into curiosity and preparation.
Take bold action in alignment with purpose and values.
Through personal anecdotes, humility, and humor, Shelmina shows that fear isn’t a barrier—it’s a teacher. Her story resonates with anyone who has ever doubted their place in the room, reminding audiences that fear can be the spark that ignites leadership and empowerment.
02:15 – Overcoming fear of being different and unseen in corporate spaces
05:00 – Lessons from rising to IBM Vice President and leading global teams
08:30 – Transforming fear into fuel for courage and leadership growth
12:10 – Empowering others to speak up and embrace their worth
15:45 – The mindset shift: fear as a signal for purpose-driven action
Leadership advancement, confidence building, career empowerment for women, and strategies for inclusive success.
She draws from her executive career leading global teams to share actionable lessons on influence, decision-making, and authentic leadership.
Organizations aiming to develop high-potential talent, foster diversity in leadership, and inspire purpose-driven performance.
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Nathan Jamail is the author of three bestselling books, The Leadership Playbook, The Sales Leaders Playbook and the The Sales Professionals Playbook although he will tell you he is not a writer, rather a business leader that writes books for business leaders. Nathan spent the last two + decades helping and coaching leaders and organizations […]
Jones Loflin is a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership expert, and productivity coach who has spent over 25 years helping organizations and individuals navigate the challenges of leadership, change management, and productivity. With a career spanning multiple industries, including education, business consulting, and leadership development, Jones has empowered countless leaders to confidently lead their teams, foster […]
Ari Gunzburg learned about death early in life. He experienced a traumatic moment when only 10 years old, when his teacher passed away while on a hiking trip. This would affect his life deeply and change his perspective forever. Following the death of this teacher, there was trouble afoot at school for all of the […]
With a trailblazing spirit and a commitment to excellence, Carey Lohrenz has soared to remarkable heights both in the sky and on the ground. As the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot in the United States Navy, Carey shattered stereotypes and paved the way for women in military aviation. Her journey is not just one of […]
Dominic Thurbon has cracked the code for making change happen, with the ultimate formula to drive innovation, future-proof your workforce and design brands that really matter. Dom is an internationally engaged speaker and facilitator who helps individuals and organisations drive behaviour change in the face of external disruption. He is a Partner in the Climate […]
Simon T. Bailey is a globally recognized speaker, author, and expert on personal and organizational brilliance. With over two decades of experience, Simon has inspired millions through his dynamic presentations, coaching, and best-selling books. He is a catalyst for positive change, guiding individuals and organizations to discover their inner brilliance and achieve extraordinary success. Simon’s […]
Kathy Caprino, M.A., stands at the forefront of empowering women in their careers and leadership journeys. As an internationally-recognized women’s career and executive coach, writer, leadership trainer, and sought-after speaker, Kathy embodies a unique blend of corporate expertise, coaching prowess, and therapeutic insight. With a career spanning 18 years as a corporate executive and 15 […]
Heather R Younger is the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a prominent figure in the realm of employee engagement and consulting. Renowned as a captivating keynote speaker, Heather brings forth invaluable insights garnered from over 25,000 employee experiences. With a robust background spanning decades in human resources and organizational development, Heather R Younger has […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
