Building Bridges: Kim Capps' Journey with Her Allies
Kim Capps, a former Director of Academic Relations for LinkedIn and founding member of Her Allies.
“At Her Allies, we understand that not everyone’s situation is the same. We offer several options and levels of support. What sets Her Allies apart is its focus on personalized support and community building."
In the world of tech, career paths are rarely linear. For Kim Capps, one of the founding members of Her Allies, her journey has been defined by building bridges between academia and industry, and between women returning to the workforce and the mentors who support them.
“I’ve always been involved in giving back and really enjoy making those connections”.
Volunteering has always been a big part: being a “Big Sister” in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, and leading the employee research group Women in Tech at Yahoo.”
From Corporate Tech to Building Communities
Kim's impressive career spans roles at tech giants including LinkedIn, Yahoo Research, Cisco Systems and Electronic Arts. Based in Southern California, she brings extensive experience in fostering connections between technology companies and academic institutions.
"I built programs focused on building strategic partnerships with universities. This involved bringing professors into industry part-time to work on our challenging technical problems alongside our engineers,” Kim recalls. "We had professors who would hold office hours with engineers where junior engineers could ask questions and get insights. We also provided fellowship grants to PhDs working in areas of interest to the company”.
This experience as Director of Academic Relations, coupled with her role chairing Women in Tech at Yahoo, provided Kim with the perfect foundation for her involvement with Her Allies.
Championing Women’s Workforce Reentry
As a board member of Her Allies, Kim plays a strategic role in building a strong community for women who take a career break.
It’s not uncommon to see women step away from their professions to take on other responsibilities like raising kids or caring for aging parents. Sometimes it’s to escape toxic workplaces or job loss from layoffs. Jumping back into the job market, whether it’s after a brief break or a long gap, can seem daunting without the right support system.
"At Her Allies, we understand that not everyone’s situation is the same. We offer several options and levels of support," Kim shares. “What sets Her Allies apart is its focus on personalized support and community building."
The organization keeps its cohorts, intentionally small, around twelve participants, to ensure meaningful connections. This intimate setting allows for deeper networking opportunities, resume reviews, and interview preparation that translate to real results.
The impact is evident in the success stories from each cohort.
“We give them a launchpad to reenter the workforce with confidence. We're seeing cohort members use the network to discover new opportunities. By participating in resume reviews, interview preparation sessions, and engaging with their mentors, they’ve successfully landed new roles," Kim notes proudly.
Making an Impact
“I've helped bring some amazing advisors to our board. Now I'm also mentoring a mentee in the cohort," Kim shares with excitement.
Her Allies is a volunteer-based organization. This means none of this is possible without the volunteers. There are several roles available with different levels of commitment for volunteers to choose from.
“You can choose to be a mentor like me, or sign up to do quick resume reviews and mock interviews. The impact you make and the network you build is priceless, no matter what you choose.” Kim adds.
Perhaps the most telling thing about this organization is that past mentees are now coming back to be mentors, creating a sustainable cycle of support that strengthens the community with each passing cohort.
Looking Forward
The spark for Her Allies came from a genuine need recognized by its founders, including Kim, Tabitha Paturi, Vicki Yang, and Michelle Paganucci - all Yahoo alumni who met through Women in Tech initiatives.
"Tabitha had a friend who needed help returning to the workforce," Kim explains. "That sparked the idea of creating a non-profit to build a network with cohorts to provide community support for people reentering the workforce. That was the beginning of Her Allies."
As Her Allies continues to grow, Kim and the team focus on maintaining program quality while expanding their reach.
"We would like to expand our engagement," Kim shares. "People utilize the group because they're looking for their next role. Once they’ve landed that new role, we would love for them to volunteer, take leadership positions, reach out, and bring more awareness to help us reach more people."
The volunteer-based model ensures everyone involved is genuinely committed to the mission.
A Community Built on Giving Back
What makes Her Allies special is the genuine desire of its founders and participants to create opportunities for others. In a tech landscape that can often feel isolating, particularly for those returning after a career gap, Her Allies represents a different approach—one built on community, mentorship, and the belief that career journeys should accommodate the full spectrum of life experiences.
Through Kim's leadership and the dedication of volunteers, Her Allies continues to provide that crucial "launch pad" for professionals ready to return to the workforce, armed with confidence, connections, and a supportive community.
Her Allies is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to helping professionals successfully return to the workforce after career breaks. To learn more about becoming a mentor, mentee, or supporter, please visit our website.