Kirstie Sims leads the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity, where she shapes Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s commitment of $100 million over five years to promote equity and address systemic racism in four national systems: health, finance, criminal justice and education. She oversees the Center’s philanthropic efforts, which include funding research, advocacy, innovation of practices and tools, stakeholder convening and non-profit capacity building. Kirstie and her team collaborate cross-functionally to help Walmart maximize the collective efforts of its business and philanthropy to advance equity in society.
Prior to her role as Senior Director of the Center, Kirstie spent the last 20 years with Walmart, Inc. across the sectors of Human Resources, Health & Safety, Global Governance and Ethics & Compliance. She is a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional and thought leader with years of experience in building high-performance cross-functional teams and driving systematic and sustainable changes.
Kirstie is an alumna of the University of Arkansas with a Master of Science Degree in Health Administration. In 2021, she completed the Council on Foundations Career Pathways Program, a highly selective cohort aimed at deepening expertise and leadership skills in the philanthropic sector.
Kirstie currently resides in Bentonville, AR and enjoys traveling, spending time with her husband and three children and supporting her community. Kirstie is extremely passionate about her family’s mission work, supporting a school they built in the remote mountains of Haiti.