Kija Kim ’67 is an award-winning entrepreneur and businesswoman. Born in Seoul, Korea, she came to America in 1966 to attend the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.

With her background in geography and a keen interest in computer programming, Kija was a pioneer of digital mapping in the mid-1980s and was the Founder and CEO of Harvard Design and Mapping Company (HDM) in Cambridge. Kija has been active within business, government, and Asian communities, serving on the Massachusetts Asian American Commission for twenty years. She was a member of the Republic of Korea’s Oversight Committee for the Three-Year Plan for Economic Innovation, appointed by South Korea’s President, Park Geun-Hye.

Kija resides in Naples, Florida, with her husband and has two grown children and three grandchildren. Meridian is her first book.

“Meridian” maps the remarkable life of Kija Kim. From growing up during the Korean War to studying in the United States—when it was virtually unheard of for a young woman to get a graduate degree—to a difficult marriage and devastating loss, Kija never lets go of her dream to succeed in business and creates an authentic and happy life for herself and her children.  It is an inspirational story about family, culture shock, love and grief—and never giving up.