A native of Indianapolis, IN, Kia Lanae is an inspirational speaker, performing artist, writer, facilitator, communications specialist, and author of Who Is She? She Is Me.: Inspirational Poetry & Reflections For God’s Evolving Daughters. She carries over twenty-five years of service and leadership experience in business, ministry, and within the community.
Whether delivering a signature keynote address in the area of spiritual and personal development, uplifting and gathering women together, organizing and facilitating community and cultural empowerment initiatives, writing, performing, working full-time… this overcomer is grateful for and passionate about her multi-faceted work, her people, and her continued evolution!
Her natural, captivating style coupled with her authenticity, Kia infuses her presentations with high energy and a type of artistry that fully engages her audiences. In addition to teaching on emotional intelligence, interviewing guests, and moderating events, a few of Kia’s signature speaking and workshop topics include “Say Yes To You!” and “The Power Is Within: Love Yourself, Heal Yourself, Free Yourself”, and more.
Through her own journey of healing and self-discovery, Kia recognized the tragedy of being stifled by fear, past trauma, and adversity as experienced within her local community, and her community at large. Today, she is helping others with similar challenges – those who are truly ready to evoke positive change from the inside out – to rise up and say YES to their best and true selves, even as she continues to evolve and flourish as a woman, as one of African descent, as a daughter of the Most High God, as one overcoming a chronic disorder, as a human being.
Community Service & Empowerment
Throughout the years, Kia has enthusiastically served and partnered with a number of community organizations and initiatives such as Salt of the Earth Church, the International Civil Rights Museum, ENDO Black, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg 2018 MLK Holiday Celebration Communications Committee, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, UNC Charlotte’s Women’s Leadership Program, Community Healing Network, Charlotte Family Housing, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Pink Ribbon Connection, Storytelling Arts of Indiana Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity’s First Time Home-Buyer Mentor Program.
Poetry & The Performing Arts
From gospel choir, to show choir, poetry, plays, and dance, Kia had a big imagination, a heart for the arts and real community. A writer for her high school newspaper, Kia began writing for her ministry’s publication, journaling, writing and performing poetic expressions shortly after graduating from college. In 2009 and again in 2013, she was cast in the “Birth of Soul Musical Stage Play” in her hometown. In 2022, Kia published her long awaited poetry book entitled, Who Is She? She Is Me.: Inspirational Poetry & Reflections for God’s Evolving
Daughters which is available on Amazon. Most recently, Kia was a featured artist at the Fishers Juneteenth Festival and has shared her poetry at local ministry and community events in her hometown.
Professional Background
In addition to oprating her own business, Kia previously served as the Director of Communications for a dynamic local ministry, where she oversaw the Communications and Production team and operations, serving thousands of members on a weekly basis, both in person and online. Kia has also worked for organizations such as the Metropolitan Indianapolis Central Indiana Area Health Education Center and the Indianapolis Airport Authority where she served as the Internal Communications Manager for the Indianapolis Airport Authority. In this newly created role, she served on the New Airport Opening Communications Team, the Super Bowl Committee, assisted with change management, media and community relations projects, and developed an internal communications strategy and tools to enhance employee engagement, morale, productivity, and more.
Education & Professional Development
Kia is a graduate of Indiana State University where she studied Radio/ TV/Film Communications and where she discovered and became empowered by Africana Studies as well as The Arts. An active member of her college community, she was named “Who’s Who in American Universities & Colleges”, “Mentor of the Year”, and also served as a Resident Assistant to incoming freshman. Fast forward, Kia has been trained and certified under powerhouse speaker Les Brown and more!
Life Today
Today, Kia spends her time between Indiana and North Carolina. In addition to her speaking, writing, and facilitation work, she also enjoys music and traveling, attending and vending at cultural festivals, watching documentaries and biographies, hosting gatherings, and spending time with her mother, close friends and family. As she continues on her path of self-discovery, personal growth, and cultural enrichment, Kia is grateful for all of the shoulders on which she stands and by which she’s able to continue onward and upward.
Contact Kia today to see how she can work with you and your group.