Meet Kemi Lawal
Oluwakemi “Kemi” Lawal was born in London, England, United Kingdom. Prior to her birth, her parents relocated to the UK from Nigeria. Originally an only child, Kemi’s early years were very pleasant filled with the exclusive attention of her parents. In the early 1990s, Kemi’s father relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to start a new life in the United States. He later sent for Kemi and her mother to join him there once things were settled.
In London, Kemi was too young to understand the magnitude of being a child of immigrants. However, once her family relocated to Atlanta, she herself experienced what the immigrant lifestyle was firsthand. She noticed just how different her surroundings were in the southern portion of the United States than in London. Specifically, she experienced a culture shock regarding Atlanta’s gardenesque landscape, American accents, and southern hospitality.
Throughout her childhood, and adolescent years, Kemi was gifted and excelled in school and extracurricular activities. In fact, her British educational background allowed her to skip a few grades and finish high school earlier than most. This, along with a healthy upbringing in Alpharetta (suburban Atlanta), gave Kemi the means to navigate life as an American teenager.
As the first child of immigrants, Kemi often dealt with high expectations regarding education. By this time, she was the older sibling to two younger sisters, and often set the example for them on how to navigate life and make the proper decisions as a young adult. This notion could not be truer in her choice of a profession. As far back as high school, Kemi already knew law was her profession of choice.
Kemi was very intentional about her legal aspirations while attending the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where she majored in Business. When it was time for law school, Kemi wanted to experience life in a new city. Of all the places to move to, Houston was at the top of her list because of its similarities to Atlanta, cultural diversity, and access to extended family members.
Kemi attended, and graduated from, South Texas College of Law in Downtown Houston, Texas. Moving to Houston was a new chapter for Kemi where she left her comfort zone, and learned what Houston has to offer both socially and academically. She found solace in the fact that law school gave her a new social network in the city as well as the Houston Nigerian community.
Today, Kemi is a corporate taxation attorney at a consulting firm here in Houston. Kemi credits Houston as the place where she came into her own both personally and professionally. Unlike living in Atlanta, where her family resides, Houston was, and still is, an opportunity for Kemi to make her own way in life and get to know herself as an adult. This confidence, and business acumen, allow Kemi to now take charge of her career and better serve all people that are part of her Houston experience. It took her some time to warm up to the city, but Kemi now feels very comfortable in Houston and calls it home.
Kemi’s hobbies include exploring local Houston restaurants, sightseeing, music, watching sports, cooking, the arts, and traveling all over the world. Her favorite areas to work and play in Houston are the Galleria, River Oaks, and West University. Kemi’s future aspirations in Houston include turning her hobbies into profitable business ventures.
