Lizzie Kiama grew up an active child in the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya. At the age of 18, she was in a serious car accident that left her with limited mobility in her legs, but with the support of her family, Lizzie slowly began to connect with her new identity. “For me, understanding disability as part of my identity was a difficult journey,” she says, “but once I embraced it, I was empowered to use it. I had claimed it for myself, instead of letting others label me as such. When you know who you are and what you stand for, there is power in that.” 

Lizzie has since launched her own management consulting firm, This-Ability that aims to provide management support to organizations working in Kenya. Lizzie and her team create strategies for organizations to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals specifically in relation to poverty, human rights issues, and the protection of marginalized populations. She advocates for persons with disabilities in the employment and government sectors and equips them with the skills needed to thrive in today’s business environment.