Ikimi Dubose-Woodson has come a long way in her career since polishing silverware at 15. But the 41-year-old wouldn’t be where she is now — and as devoted as she is to community service — were it not for that lowly gig at the New York Marriott World Trade Center back in 1997. It was there that she was introduced to her lifetime mentor, award-winning chef Walter Plender, who went on to support her through college at Johnson & Wales , where she received a scholarship through the nonprofit Careers Through Culinary Arts Program .
Now, she’s the CEO and co-founder of the Roots Fund , a nonprofit created to empower communities of color in the wine industry, based in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. “Along with my mother’s giving heart, I have always been connected to giving back in my community,” said Dubose-Woodson. After completing two degrees, Dubose-Woodson embarked on a whirlwind adventure in Singapore, South Asia and Europe, “studying food through people and culture.
” Upon returning home, she realized that while she loved restaurants, they didn’t pay all that well. Thus, she decided to forge a career in hotels, and Dubose-Woodson began her career with Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. Over the next 15 years, she opened hotel restaurants, training chefs around the country in international cuisine.
In 2010, the versatile chef decided to leave and venture into corporate restaurant groups. Another career pivot was in store in 2020 when Dubose-Woodson decided to build her.