KIA LORECE SMITH, MBA

ENGINEER • EXECUTIVE LEADER • SPEAKER • CREATOR • COMMUNITY BUILDER

Engineering Excellence. Elevating People. Creating Impact.

Kia Lorece Smith, MBA is an aerospace and engineering leader, STEM advocate, speaker, author, podcaster, and community builder whose work spans industry, education, culture, and service.

From helping deliver some of the nation's most consequential aerospace and defense programs to creating platforms that celebrate Black excellence, Kia has built a career—and a world—centered on excellence, opportunity, and impact.

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ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP

Building Excellence at Global Scale

Kia serves as a Regional Supplier Quality Manager for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, leading a team of 10 engineers responsible for more than 200 suppliers throughout California and across an international sub-tier supplier network.

Her organization supports the quality and delivery of components used in the manufacturing of military aircraft, satellites, and space vehicles.

Throughout her career, Kia has directly impacted more than $60 million in aerospace programs, including:

CST-100 Starliner • Wideband Global SATCOM • ViaSat • O3b • F-15 • F/A-18 • VC-25B • MQ-25

Before Boeing, Kia held engineering and program management roles with Eaton Aerospace, Raytheon, and NASA Ames Research Center, building a career at the intersection of engineering, quality, program execution, and leadership.

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Suppliers Supported

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Engineers Led

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Program Impact

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Program Impact

RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE

Leadership That Gets Noticed

Kia's professional leadership and community impact have earned recognition from organizations across engineering, aerospace, STEM, and the Black professional community.

2026

BEYA Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award

2025

Southern University 40 Under 40

2024

Boeing Champion Award for Safety & Quality

Divine Nine Awards — Blazing Pearl

Black Girls Do Engineer — SEEN Figures

Black Engineer of the Year — Future Leaders Workshop

2022

Society of Women Engineers — Emerging Leader Award

Black Engineer of the Year — Modern Day Technology Award

2021

Women of Color — Rising Star Award

ADVOCATE

Building pathways for the next generation.

Kia co-created BLEND, a Boeing retention initiative for people of color that has impacted more than 300 professionals.

She also created the Billy & Juanita Smith HBCU Scholarship, investing directly in students and the future of HBCU excellence.

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PODCASTER

Celebrating the excellence around us.

As host of The World of Kia Podcast, Kia creates conversations that highlight the Black excellence in her life—from professionals and entrepreneurs to creatives, leaders, and changemakers.

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AUTHOR

Turning experience into empowerment.

Kia is the author of How to Love Yourselfand a contributing author to The HBCU Experience: Southern University, 2nd Edition.

Her writing reflects the same mission found throughout her work: encouraging people to recognize their value, embrace their story, and pursue their purpose.

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COMMUNITY BUILDER

Creating spaces where people connect and thrive.

Whether through scholarships, professional development, events, mentorship, STEM advocacy, or storytelling, Kia creates opportunities for people to be seen, celebrated, connected, and empowered.

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SPEAKING & APPEARANCES

Bring Kia to Your Stage.

From aerospace and engineering leadership to HBCU excellence, STEM advocacy, professional development, women's leadership, self-empowerment, and community impact, Kia brings the perspective of someone who has built her career across worlds that too often remain separate.

Potential speaking areas include:
Engineering & STEM Leadership
Supplier Quality
Women in STEM
Black Professionals in Corporate America
HBCU Excellence
Leadership & Career Development
Building Community
Personal Empowerment

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STAY IN KIA'S WORLD

Follow the journey. Hear the conversations. Attend the experiences. See the impact.

THE WORLD OF KIA PODCAST
EVENTS & APPEARANCES
STEM & IMPACT
COMMUNITY
MEDIA & PRESS
CONTACT KIA

Kia Lorece Smith, MBA

Engineering Solutions. Elevating People. Empowering Communities.

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