Kamilah Exum
Lawyer Coach | Wellness Coach
Kamilah Exum wins the Christina M. L. Bishop Award at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Kamilah helps define and achieve career satisfaction. Her goal is to help lawyers learn to tune into their inner wisdom in order to enjoy careers and lives they never thought possible.
For 20 years, Kamilah has guided attorneys and other professionals to build the skills necessary to achieve success at work, both in substantive function and in navigating workplace relationships.
Kamilah graduated with a JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. She is a certified Corporate Wellness Specialist, Positive Intelligence Coach, Life Coach, and Spiritual Coach.
“I had an excellent experience with Kamilah. She really helped me hone in on some interview and networking skills that have been leading to more ‘hits.’ I feel confident that my next great opportunity is around the corner.”
During her time as a public interest tax practice group leader and later, as a SME at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Kamilah worked with a wide range of professionals, from bank presidents to law firm summer associates.
“Kamilah was really helpful; I’ve cemented my strategy moving forward.”
While practicing law, Kamilah managed a pro bono mentorship program for attorneys at AmLaw 100 firms in Charlotte and Chicago. She liaised with partners in conducting formal training in both the technical and practical aspects of tax controversy cases and their management for associates. She also mentored these pro bono attorneys as they worked through their first cases as lead counsel, assisting with issues such as audit preparation and effective communication with clients.
At the Federal Reserve, Kamilah conducted multi-day workshops to further departmental fluency with the Community Reinvestment Act, while providing individual coaching to JD, MBA and/or CPA level bank examiners. She effectively navigated difficult conversations with C-Suite professionals at banking institutions and developed proficiency in fostering collective buy-in.
In addition to coaching individual lawyers, Kamilah runs a boutique consulting firm dedicated to furthering the B Corp Movement’s impact.
Kamilah's Focus
Kamilah is a great choice for...
Executive lawyers in small to mid-sized organizations ($75 million or less in annual revenue)
Executive-track lawyers
Government and service lawyers
SMEs/in house counsel
Individual contributors and leaders of small teams
Junior attorneys and entry-level lawyers
Recent law school graduates
Current law students
Traditional law students
Nontraditional law students
First-generation lawyers and students
Prospective law students
She counsels on issues such as...
Navigating difficult conversations
Interpersonal relationship challenges
Feeling stuck in your current position
Creating a career you love
Diversity, equity, including, and belonging (DEIB)
Managing your workplace wellbeing – burnout, anxiety, etc.
Finding purpose and meaning in your work
Career planning
Success in the workplace
Developing confidence
Getting unstuck and overcoming roadblocks
Landing your dream job
Aligning your work and your values
Building a professional network
Getting credit for your work/being visible when it matters
Hybrid workplace challenges
Understanding the career focus that’s right for you
Background in Law and Legal Hiring / Philosophy
Kamilah Exum
Kamilah graduated with a JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. She began her career practicing tax controversy law in a public interest setting, advancing to the equivalent of practice group leader. During this time, she acted as the hiring manager for attorney, paralegal and intern staff for the tax practice group, and sat on the hiring committee for other practice group leaders.
After seven years in tax controversy, Kamilah spent nearly ten years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, becoming a SME in the Community Reinvestment Act.
Kamilah believes that every individual possesses the necessary intuition to achieve any goal they desire. But their inner voices, critics, and saboteurs are often louder and more familiar than that intuitive wisdom, and, consequently, that negativity run most people’s lives. Kamilah’s goal is to help clients learn to tune into their inner wisdom, while turning down the volume on the saboteurs, in order to enjoy the careers, and lives, they never thought possible.
Sample Associations and Affiliations
Professional Associations and Affiliations
Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist
Certified Executive Coach
Certified Life Coach
Certified Spiritual Coach
PMP (inactive)
Bar and Court Admissions (inactive)
Illinois and North Carolina
Speaking Engagements, Presentations, Panels, and Events
Featured. “Imposter Syndrome in the Legal Profession: Understanding Its Impact and Finding Solutions,” IHC-Editorial, Sept. 13, 2024.
Co-Presenter. “Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Befriending the Inner Critic: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” In-House Connect, Aug. 5, 2024.