When Ukeme immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 to attend college, she could not have imagined that her immigrant experience would be more than a journey of academic pursuits; it would become a profound exploration of identity, resilience, and purpose.  
 
Today, Ukeme is a partner at a national Law firm, an elected official and sought-after speaker on Immigrant Leadership Development. In 2021, she was named by the Columbus CEO Magazine as one of its Future 50 Leaders and clenched a historic victory as the first person of color and immigrant to be elected to City Council in her community. 
 
Her work is informed by her unique perspective as a triple minority (black, female, immigrant), a mechanical engineer with an MBA and a lawyer. Having lived and worked in 8 cities across 3 countries, she brings a wealth of insights from her vast experiences working within Fortune 500 companies, national Law Firms, Universities, Local Governments, and specialized agencies of the United Nations and is often hailed for her ability to connect quickly and her understanding of different cultures and societal dynamics.  
 
The inspiration for Ukeme’s debut book ImmGRIT struck after she delivered a commencement speech at her alma mater in 2022. Listening to the stories of international students who approached her after the speech left her with the distinct impression that there is a failure by business leaders to recognize the importance of fostering a culture that harnesses the power of immigrant leadership to drive organizational success.