Faces of NLU: Meet Beverly Kim
A working mom, award-winning chef, and culinary entrepreneur reflects on the foundation she built at Kendall College.
Beverly Kim graduated from Kendall College in 2000, but the skills and determination she learned during her culinary program have stayed with her ever since. Now, as a James Beard Award-winning chef, owner of multiple restaurants, and proud working mother, she reflects on her journey to success.
For Beverly, this journey began in high school, where she first was introduced to the idea of studying at Kendall College:
“I had the opportunity to meet award-winning chefs in Chicago in high school and they recommended going to Kendall College as a good stepping stone for getting the foundation for my culinary career [...] [Kendall College] gave me the foundational skills and mindset to get my career started.”
Beverly has used that determined mindset to work through challenges and realize her goal of owning her own restaurant.
“My goal was to build my skill set as a cook and then as a chef so that one day, I would have the opportunity to open my own restaurant. When given the opportunity to compete on Top Chef, I displayed my determination to succeed in order to gain a platform to be able to open my own restaurant, which I did three years afterward. The biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome has been balancing being a working mother and still performing at a high level in my career.”
Along with owning two successful Chicago restaurants, Beverly uses her time to help other female professionals and working moms realize their goals, just as she did:
“I own two restaurants -- Parachute and Wherewithall. I also am a founder of a non-profit called The Abundance Setting, an organization dedicated to supporting the advancement of working women and moms to thrive in the culinary and hospitality industry.”
As far as advice she would pass on to other National Louis University and Kendall College students, Beverly shares some wisdom she learned from her mentor, Chef Yves Roubaud:
“Find fulfillment in your passion and you will not work a day in your life!”
Interested in learning more about Kendall College programs? View our degree programs and certificates here, take a recreational class here, or talk to an enrollment specialist at enrollment@nl.edu or 888.658.8632.
