Svetlana Kim is an international businesswoman, remarkable author, and inspiring speaker. Her speeches deliver maximum value to business owners, corporate employees and international audiences. She speaks English and Russian.

• My Russian-Korean Babushka's Secrets on How to Persevere in Tough Times and Achieve Ultimate Success
• How to Climb the Ladder to Success: What I Discovered While Going From Cleaning Lady to Presidential Fundraiser
• Giving Without Remembering, Taking Without Forgetting: How to Build Successful Relationships in Business and Life

For a comprehensive speaker's kit [click here]

For Svetlana's Bio [click here]

For Svetlana's Book [click here]

For Svetlana's Headshot [click here]

It's not often you hear a speaker whose words are so hopeful and profound that you are somehow changed by them. Svetlana Kim often gets such a response from members of her audience when they hear her speak from the heart about her life experiences, or her motivation to write her autobiographical book, White Pearl and I: A Memoir of a Political Refugee. The wisdom and anecdotes she shares are inspiring and relevant to all Americans.

Svetlana credits her gift for storytelling to her paternal grandmother, White Pearl. Her grandmother's own life stories, shared with Lana as a young girl and throughout her life, had great influence in molding Lana's inner strength and character. Lana speaks with obvious love and admiration when relating a story or pearl of wisdom from her grandmother.

Lana has been a presenter or keynote speaker at several functions in Washington, DC., including: The Asian Leaders Association, the Library of Congress Asian Division Friends of Society, the Global Coalition for Korean War Reconciliation, Diversity and Women's Leadership Annual Conference, ICAS Fall Symposium: Humanity, Peace, and Security in the U.S. Senate, Georgetown University, and many others.

Dear Lana,

What a pleasure it was seeing you in action at the screening of the award-winning film Koryo Saram: The Unreliable People at the Library of Congress on October 9, 2008.

Director Y. David Chung must have been so pleased to have you honor his documentary by sharing your moving story with the audience there that night.

Everyone in the room was inspired by the incredible story of survival of your grandmother, her impact on you, and the little-known history of the Soviet-Korean immigrants in Russia who overcame such adversity.

The audience was absolutely still during your presentation, hanging on your every word. The response of the individuals who stood up to share their story or the story of their grandparents was testimony to the power of your influence and ability to connect.

I admire your courage and I'm glad you're revealing the private and dear stories of you and your grandmother to the public on the stage (through your speaking) and on the page (through your book White Pearl and I). Your passion, gratitude, enthusiasm and grace in sharing your lessons-learned and insights benefit everyone who hear them or read them.

I hope that meeting planners and program coordinators around the world are smart enough to arrange for you to address their group or conference. Attendees will benefit from hearing how an individual has overcome such daunting challenges and committed herself to serving others with integrity.

Best wishes to you - and thank you again for your eloquent and inspiring example.

Sincerely,

Sam Horn
-Top-rated speaker at two International Platform Association conventions 16-time Emcee of the world-renowned Maui Writers Conference

"Lana has been one of the most engaging Guest that we've enjoyed having at
WomensRadio. Her knowledge of the little-known history of Koreans in Russia
and her own personal history of the women in her family and what they
endured, makes her book White Pearls and I pop off the pages. Our
audience related because we have all preserved through hard times. Lana's
personal story is more dramatic, and certainly very inspiring."

LANA KIM's persona and carriage belie the experiences of dislocation and struggles that she went through as a Soviet refugee arriving in America. Today, in the bustle of the nation's capital, Lana projects the strength, courage and aspirations of a leader, able to persuade, motivate and inspire others. Her vision is clear: that she must serve her fellowmen.

The memories and values imparted by the most influential woman in her life, her grandmother, have sustained her daily life. Lana offers her friendship to all and those who have been touched by her presence in their lives have been inspired to follow her lead.

Reme Grefalda
Librarian/Curator
Asian Pacific American Collection
Asian Division
Program Chair
Asian Division Friends Society
Library of Congress