(Chicago Defender)—Kim Barker, the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Bally’s Corporation, is not just a legal expert in the gaming industry; she’s a trailblazer playing a pivotal role in a company helping to reshape the gaming landscape nationwide, especially in Chicago.
Barker shared her journey with The Chicago Defender, from growing up in Spanish Harlem in New York to helping lead one of the top gaming and betting corporations in the world.
Her early decision on a future profession was made possible thanks to her mother, who recognized her daughter’s intellectual gifts and penchant for debate.
“There’s this saying sometimes that a bossy child makes an assertive adult. Let’s just say I grew up bossy, opinionated, and arguing every point,” Barker said.
Her tendency to question and dissect everything made her mother come to a conclusion that would help shape the course of her life.
“I think she’s just going to be a lawyer,” said Barker, remembering her mother’s words.
“Thankfully, for me, with a single mom who had a deep appreciation for raising an inquisitive child who didn’t take anything at face value, I was raised in a way that supported that part of who I was.”
Driven by a keen intellect, Barker pursued her education at prestigious institutions, graduating from Yale College and New York University School of Law.
“I always thought about how I could make a difference for myself, my family, and those who come behind me, both economically and in terms of education opportunity,” Barker said. All of those things, when you put them together, led me to the direction of being a lawyer and pursuing a degree in law.”
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