Salima Thomas is an award-winning leader, strategist, speaker, and trainer with a passion for systems-thinking and meaningfully engaging communities. She grew up in the Triangle area with roots in the "Big Apple" of New York. Salima has spent over fifteen years of her professional career serving the public sector including nonprofits, government, and faith-based organizations.

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Salima exemplifies her passion and commitment to organizational capacity building that leaves a positive impact on people and communities. She is a diligent advocate for equity and inclusion. She uses her platform to champion causes that excite her including leadership development, health & wellness, and the performing arts and culture. 

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Salima has served on boards and committees throughout the state and nationally. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In addition, Salima has been recognized with awards such as the Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Leadership Award and the Association Executives of North Carolina’s Rising Star. A Spartan and Forty-Niner alumnae, Salima received her bachelor’s in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and master’s in public administration with dual concentrations in arts administration and nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

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In her free time, she enjoys the arts, traveling to new places, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.