Professional background and experience:

Kim Robinson is a Harvard educated attorney, member of the State Bar of California, U.S.; a mediator accredited in the U.K. and South Africa; Certified Ethics Officer with the Ethics Institute of South Africa; and Fulbright Scholar. Kim leads Renaissance Strategic Solutions, which offers legal services, training (ethics, anti-sexual harassment, inter alia), strategic planning, and services to creatives. Kim is the Advisor to the Head of School at Kgololo Academy in Alexandra, Johannesburg. Kim provides strategic insight to the school leadership, builds relationships locally and internationally, and raises funds. Kim was an Associate at the firm Bingham McCutchen (now Morgan Lewis), where she second chaired and successfully represented her client against Pacific Bell where the court awarded $24 million in damages. Kim’s experience includes a stint as Coordinator, Organisational and Leadership Development at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy and a time as Executive Director of Student Sponsorship Program, a South African trust. Kim served as in-house counsel to the U.S. Agency for International Development in Botswana. A New Yorker by birth and permanent resident of South Africa, Kim, in addition to working in the U.S. has worked in Botswana, Eswatini, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, and Ghana.

Mediation experience and style:

Kim has mediated disputes in the workplace. She is capable of mediating in situations that require professionalism and a calm, neutral presence to keep parties in dialogue to arrive at shared solutions. Kim inspires confidence, treats people fairly, is clear about ground rules, and creates an environment that enables parties to reflect, engage, and resolve issues.

Facilitation experience and style:

Kim has facilitated in a variety of settings on a range of topics.  Her facilitation includes working with schools, NGOs, and an advertising firm to develop their strategies and the plans to implement them.  She has also facilitated training sessions on ethics and sexual harassment for US government agencies and a global public health institute.  For one client, during its foundational stage, she facilitated a series of sessions on Peter Senge’s Five Disciplines, including shared vision and team learning.  

Comments from mediation clients:

"Everyone came away from the meeting feeling that real progress had been made and with the sense that this relationship could be salvaged."

"The session was very impactful as it assisted me to see things from a different perspective and understand [the other person's] side of the story. The session taught me the importance of asking for stories instead of assuming."

"You made me feel very comfortable and at ease. Just wanted to take a moment to express appreciation for your hard work, professionalism, and dedication to resolving the Parties' dispute. You were very helpful."

"You validated everyone's contributions, ensured that everyone had an opportunity to speak, and highlighted areas of consensus. You helped people to air their grievances but then focused the rest of the discussion on finding a way forward that everyone could embrace."