Kai Hardimon: Going Above and Beyond

Simone Hammond

For Junior Economics major and entrepreneur Kai Hardimon, receiving the Spelman Blueprint’s 25 for 25 Spotlight Award was a pleasant surprise. “I was not expecting it,” she says, “and I think that is something very beautiful about the award.” The recognition of the work that she puts in both on and off campus as a scholar, advocate, and business owner, has made her feel genuinely seen by her peers.

The Blueprint’s Spotlight Award was created to highlight individuals at Spelman who have demonstrated extraordinary contributions, be it through public service and community engagement, civic engagement, or arts and academia. Though Hardimon’s achievements are representative of all three, her entrepreneurial endeavors as a small business owner are what she believes make her stand out.

Hardimon’s idea for her small business began at the end of her freshman year as she prepared to study abroad in Japan. It was here that she met her business partner, Rokiyah Darbo, with whom she immediately clicked as the two began to discuss the future. After months of planning, KAIRO Active, a brand created from the combination of their names, was released to the public. For now, the brand is focused on activewear, but in the future, they hope to pursue other ventures.

Above all, for new entrepreneurs, she recommends to “do a business that you know about, don’t try to start in something that you know nothing about.” In addition, she advises owners to create a map of what exactly they want their business to be. After creating this map, Hardimon says, “it became a lot easier for us to move forward because we had something visual to keep reminding us of where we were going and where we are now.”

Apart from being a business owner, Hardimon is a passionate advocate. She currently holds positions in SGA and the Title IX department as the director of special populations and a Senior Peer Educator. Through this advocacy, she’s learned that “people experience issues that you don’t, and you have to be able to step outside of your shoes to help them and to understand what they’re going through.”

One of her favorite events that she helped plan as the Director of Special Populations was the election decompression that was specifically targeted towards neurodivergent students. After the event, she received an influx of positive feedback as “it was a space that isn’t usually provided at Spelman.” Hardimon says that events like these are helping the campus become more inclusive for neurodivergent students.

Despite the dedication to her brand and advocacy, Hardimon still finds the time to go above and beyond academically. She takes finance classes at Morehouse and attends financial boot camps throughout the semester to continue developing her skills. Because of this commitment to bettering herself, in February, she was recognized as the economic department’s first ever student of the month, which she sees as a proud accomplishment. After college, Hardimon would like to go into private equity, eventually returning to school to pursue a graduate degree.

With all of Hardimon’s accomplishments also come rejections, but she chooses to look at them through a positive lens. “I’ve had to have a lot of doors close in my face in order for other ones to be opened,” she says. There’s nowhere that this lesson has resonated more with Hardimon than while applying for internships. During the process, Hardimon had begun to feel discouraged, but she ultimately ended up receiving an opportunity that provided her with a scholarship in addition to the position.

Similarly, after being rejected from RSO’s, Hardimon realized that she wouldn’t have been able to dedicate enough time, or that her skills were better suited elsewhere. These rejections and redirections were a blessing, Hardimon says. “I wouldn’t have been as successful as I am now if I wouldn’t have experienced those difficulties.”

When it comes to the legacy that Hardimon wants to leave behind, she has two words: Girl Boss. “I want to be an example for other girls who may be looking to come to Spelman, that everything is possible,” she says. Although the journey may be difficult, she wants them to know that there is a way to balance academics, create businesses, become involved, give back, and do whatever they put their minds to.