Leslie Short

I am the founder of K.I.M. Media LLC, The Cavu Group, and Ascend Bereavement Mgmt., working at the intersection of business, brand, and culture. I partner with organizations to expand beyond their current culture and into what’s possible.

A two-time author and Accessibility Officer for major television and film award shows, I have built a career defined by bold moves and boundary-breaking leadership. When you’re fearless, determined, and focused, you don’t follow the path; you make it.

I have never stayed in the boxes others tried to put me in. At seven,I declared myself “too sophisticated for New Jersey.” Years later, I danced across Europe, built Japan’s first male revue show, helped transform FUBU into a global brand, and established myself as a chaplain, speaker, and trusted advisor.

From ballet studios to boardrooms, cruise ships to corporate America, my journey is as unconventional as it is inspiring, marked by resilience, humor, and fearless candor in the face of racism, sexism, and uncharted spaces.