Meet Kim Adams, Sodexo Education Schools District Manager
By Michelle Thomas, Senior Manager, Diversity Recruitment

Tell us about our background? I attended the University of Notre Dame, where I received a degree in Organizational Management. After graduation, I was hired as a management trainee by Marriott Hotels, where I moved up the ranks and eventually became a Food and Beverage Director. After spending seven years on the hotel side of the business, I wanted to expand my experience so I left Marriott and joined Marriott Management Services, which eventually became Sodexho Marriott and is now known as Sodexo.

For the past 19 years, my career has grown exponentially with Sodexo. I have had the opportunity to transfer between the Health Care, Campus Services and School Services divisions. With each transfer, I was promoted into positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, I was promoted into the position of District Manager in School Services, where I manage a district which is composed of 12 independent schools in the Southeast.

What makes Sodexo an employer of choice for diverse candidates? I would not have spent 19 years of my career with this company if it did not support diversity. Sodexo provides a large opportunity for growth. The diversity initiatives that the company has in place make it easier for minorities to go into management positions and to explore other opportunities that they might want to pursue.

Furthermore, the mentoring programs that the company offers help to build minority networks, sharpen employee skills and help employees prepare themselves for whatever path they might want to take within the organization.

What advice do you have for college students looking to begin their career? I have several pieces of advice that I would like to share. First and foremost, do your homework on the company. You should also research what you really want in a career. Secondly, make sure that you sharpen your interviewing and networking skills. These two things are going to be very important in seeking out employment. Finally, make sure that you have good writing skills. Without them, you will not get in the door.