Valerie V Kim: Serial Entrepreneur, Speaker, Author, Mentor, Founder of iSpeakUpLightUp platform

Driven by her passion for entrepreneurship, Valerie has dedicated herself to creating projects that seamlessly blend creativity, business acumen, and social impact.

With an international background, she possesses a unique ability to expand businesses across global markets. Since 2017, Valerie has been on a mission to empower women to achieve mental, emotional, and financial independence, encouraging them to become architects of their own reality. With expertise in personal transformation, Valerie has helped countless individuals revolutionize their businesses and lives. A successful entrepreneur and world champion athlete, she has led international projects and conducted over 100 interviews with A-list celebrities and influencers. Now, Valerie is dedicated to empowering women to unleash their unique talents and build profitable, globally recognized businesses.

You have been on a mission to empower women globally to achieve mental, emotional, and financial independence. What sparked your passion to help others?

With a background as an athlete, a career in banking and investment, and starting my own business at a young age, I never imagined that I would find myself immersed in women empowerment projects. Yet, life has a way of steering us toward paths we never anticipated.

When I gave birth to my first daughter, something profound shifted within me. It was as though a dormant program had suddenly been activated. I felt an insistent, almost “annoying,” thought: I need to do something for women. I had no idea where this thought came from or what it truly meant. With my newborn in my arms, I began exploring various ideas—everything from creating physical products and empowering tools for mothers to interviewing successful women and starting a blog. That was the beginning of an unexpected journey.

Dr. Mariam Shaikh, A Trailblazer in Education and a Champion for Women’s Empowerment

At first, none of it made sense. Even years later, I often felt lost, unsure of my direction or purpose. I hosted in-person events, built a platform called Independent Women World, launched memberships, organized talks, and even created a documentary that became a nominee at a film festival. Yet, I still couldn’t fully grasp what I was doing or why.

Looking back now, it all fits together. Those years of blindly following my heart, along with the professional skills I developed in my jobs, were pieces of a larger puzzle. I learned to lead events in places I had never visited, to build and manage teams, to create budgets, and to share my knowledge along the way. Most importantly, I realized that every venture is driven not just by money, but by a deeper “why.”

For me, that “why” was rooted in helping women heal from generational wounds. For centuries, women were punished, ostracized, and even killed for showcasing their gifts and abilities. Tragically, we still see echoes of this in parts of the world. Many women remain trapped in unfulfilling jobs, toxic relationships, and environments that stifle their well-being. We’ve been conditioned to believe we don’t deserve better, that we’re not good enough, or that we need a “prince charming” to save us.

But it’s time to wake up. It’s time to reclaim our power and understand that we are no longer victims. As adults, we are responsible for shaping our lives. Emotional, mental, and financial independence begins with working on ourselves—our skills, our abilities, our mindset and mental well-being, and our networks.

Stop betraying yourself and your dreams. Start believing that you deserve more. When women rise, we not only uplift ourselves but also inspire and empower those around us.

Tell us about work with international projects and your work with A-list celebrities and influencers.

At some point, my personal development journey led me to the world of public speaking. My first speaking engagement was in front of an audience of 4,000 people. Together with my partner, we were invited to share our experience as newly World Champions, offering insights into strategies and techniques for building a resilient mindset and applying the principles of sport to succeed in business.

As with many things in life, once you try something you enjoy, you naturally become more open to pursuing it further. I began attending various business and personal growth conferences, summits, and retreats, and that’s when opportunities started to unfold. From interviewing A-list celebrity John Travolta to connecting with the former right-hand of Barack Obama (whom I approached immediately after her speech, and she kindly agreed to an interview for my talk show), each experience opened new doors. The same happened with Bob Doyle from The Secret and Kristina Mand-Lakhiani, the co-founder of Mindvalley.

Today, hosting my own podcast as well as Business Summits and Experiences has become a platform to connect with extraordinary business leaders, industry celebrities, and influencers from across the globe. My international background and projects naturally led to working with clients from diverse countries and cultures.

One of my greatest gifts is the ability to unite people. This ability has turned into a mission: bringing like-minded individuals together to foster growth, build global business connections, and create lifelong friendships. Beyond business, these gatherings offer new experiences that broaden perspectives, nurture creativity, and inspire self-discovery.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned that true growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones—not only to learn about others but also to uncover more about ourselves.

Tell us about the iSpeakUpLightUp platform and your signature event.

iSpeak Up! Light Up! was born as an extension of the journey I’ve shared—a culmination of my mission to inspire women to embrace their worth and realize that we are fully capable of creating the lives we desire. It began with an ambitious idea: to deliver this message through the powerful medium of a documentary film. While the project is still in production, the journey it sparked has been nothing short of transformative.

This endeavor led to the creation of a vibrant community of women who are ready to embrace self-expression, launch and scale businesses that generate income while bringing true fulfillment, and live life unapologetically on their terms. iSpeak Up! Light Up! has become more than a platform—it’s a movement for those who want to share their stories and expertise, teach valuable skills, and experience the fullness of life.

Too often, we find ourselves caught in the “workaholic mode,” endlessly chasing the next big goal while forgetting to truly live. That’s why our events go beyond education. They include opportunities to experience something new—whether it’s exploring a different culture, traveling to a new country, or trying an exciting activity. These experiences serve as a powerful reminder that you can have it all:

Speak up with your unique gifts, talents, and abilities (self-expression).
Light up the world by serving others through your business (impact).
Enjoy the journey while sharing it with like-minded individuals.

This year, we are thrilled to host the Speak Up! Light Up! Business Summit in Dubai, an event designed to reconnect with our ever-growing community and welcome new members into the fold. The summit will bring together speakers and attendees from across continents to foster learning, growth, and connection, while also providing an opportunity to showcase products and services.

Through this global network, attendees can not only expand their horizons but also discover exciting possibilities for taking their ventures to new markets.

Join us in Dubai to speak up, light up, and experience a transformative journey like no other.

What makes this event so special?

What sets Speak Up! Light Up! apart is its format—a blend of education and transformative life experiences. For different people, these experiences mean different things. For some, attending an event in Dubai may fulfill a long-held dream, ticking off a destination on their bucket list. For others, it’s an opportunity to expand their horizons—taking their success from a local market to a global stage.

What truly defines our events, however, is the people. We’re not focused on quantity but on curating a close-knit gathering of around 100 individuals. This allows for deep engagement, meaningful connections, and active participation in every session and conversation.

The magic of our events works both ways. It’s inspiring to witness not only the growth and breakthroughs of attendees but also the camaraderie among speakers. Behind the scenes, they support each other, build valuable partnerships, and create a network of lasting collaboration.

Every event and project has its own unique essence. What makes Speak Up! Light Up! special is that it’s built on a foundation of personal vision, heart, and self-expression. This is more than just an event; it’s a reflection of our belief in the power of connection, inspiration, and shared growth.

We’re excited to continue bringing people together in ways that transform lives and businesses.

Share some of the opportunities to be gained on this day.

From connecting with entrepreneurs, investors, and influencers across various industries to learning practical tools and strategies for business growth, personal development, and mental well-being, our event offers a truly transformative experience.

Attendees have the opportunity to:

Showcase their products/services during dedicated breaks
Deliver small pitches to an engaged and supportive audience.
Win exciting gifts through special event activities.
Engage in next-level networking with like-minded individuals.

From our past events, we’ve seen incredible outcomes:

New clients and business collaborations forged.
Long-lasting friendships and partnerships built.
People reconnecting after the event to support each other’s growth.
Speaking gigs and international visibility gained.

What is next for you?

Last year, we launched our virtual presence—a major milestone on our journey. Truth be told, when we organized our very first event, we didn’t even have a website! This is why, when I work with aspiring entrepreneurs who see obstacles at every step, I remind them: you don’t need to have everything in place to start. Start small, think big, and build long-term.

Since then, we’ve come a long way. We’ve launched a platform that truly reflects who we are, what we stand for, and where we’re going. Having gained clarity on our vision and mission, I’ve aligned it with actionable tools to empower entrepreneurs at every stage.

This month, we’re unveiling our signature mentorship program. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and those already in business but feeling stuck, this program focuses on building a strong foundation to start or scale your business. It’s a blend of essential business knowledge, entrepreneurial strategies, and tools to cultivate the mindset, spirit, and skills needed for success. It’s about more than business—it’s about rewiring your mind for lasting achievement.

We’re also publishing a book! Together with my business partner, Dr. Manel Chikh, we’re releasing a book that delves deep into these concepts, offering guidance and inspiration for those seeking to thrive in business and life.

And there’s more… If you visit our website, you might notice that some pages are locked. That’s because we’re revealing our next steps gradually to our community members and those curious about our journey.

Big news is coming.

We’ll be sharing exciting updates during the Speak Up! Light Up! Business Summit in Dubai. This year’s summit is your last chance to experience the event in its current format. Next time, it will evolve into something completely different—something even bigger and more impactful. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an extraordinary journey and witness the transformation firsthand.