Today we’d like to introduce you to Kurline Josephine Altes.
Hi Kurline, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am an immigrant from Saint Lucia, and my journey has never followed a straight line.
Before I became a workforce development executive, speaker, and founder, I was simply a young woman searching for opportunity. Like many immigrants, I arrived in the United States carrying big dreams but limited resources. I lived in Brooklyn, New Jersey, and later Maryland, navigating the realities of financial hardship, housing instability, and the uncertainty that often comes with starting over in a new country.
My professional journey began as a live-in nanny. It was honest work, and it taught me lessons about responsibility, resilience, and service that still shape my leadership today. From there, I transitioned into ministry, community-based work, workforce development, and eventually entrepreneurship. At every stage, I encountered people who were working hard but struggling to access opportunities that could truly change the trajectory of their lives.
What I observed repeatedly was that most people did not lack talent. They lacked access, guidance, confidence, and systems designed to help them succeed.
That realization became the foundation of KurlineJSpeaks.
KurlineJSpeaks began as a seminary project called “My Sister’s Keeper.” Over time, the organization evolved as my understanding of service evolved. I realized that purpose is not confined to church walls. Whatever we do through our vocation is an opportunity to serve, lead, and impact others. I wanted to help people beyond ministry settings and create pathways that empowered individuals in the place where they spend a significant portion of their lives—the workplace.
As I worked with youth, families experiencing housing instability, justice-impacted women, emerging professionals, and underserved communities, I recognized that people needed more than motivation. They needed workforce readiness, leadership development, career pathways, and practical strategies that could help them build sustainable futures. At the same time, employers needed stronger talent pipelines, better-prepared employees, and leadership practices that supported growth and retention.
That perspective shaped the mission of KurlineJSpeaks: bridging the gap between individual potential and organizational success.
Today, I design workforce systems, leadership initiatives, and professional development programs that help organizations move beyond one-time workshops and create measurable outcomes. Whether supporting youth entering the workforce, strengthening employment pathways for justice-impacted women, or helping organizations build workforce strategies that drive impact, my work remains rooted in one belief: workforce development is not just about helping people get jobs—it is about helping people build lives.
My story is proof that opportunity can change everything. As someone who has experienced instability, financial hardship, and the challenge of building something from nothing, I understand firsthand what it means to navigate barriers while pursuing purpose. That lived experience allows me to connect strategy with empathy, systems with people, and vision with execution.
Today, KurlineJSpeaks serves communities across Maryland, New Jersey, and the New York metropolitan area, helping individuals strengthen their skills, expand their opportunities, and build pathways to economic mobility. What began as a desire to help others has grown into a mission to transform workforce systems, develop leaders, and create lasting community impact.
I believe stronger communities are built when people have access to meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and systems designed to help them thrive. That belief continues to guide everything I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the hardest realities of building KurlineJSpeaks was that there were seasons when I had to choose between keeping food on my table and investing in my business.
As an immigrant, I’ve always understood what it means to work hard for every opportunity. I started my career as a live-in nanny, later transitioned into ministry and community-based work, and eventually began building KurlineJSpeaks while working full-time. There were no investors, large grants, or startup capital behind the business. Every investment came from personal sacrifice, faith, and a commitment to the mission.
Many people see entrepreneurship through the lens of growth and success, but there were seasons when building the business created real strain on my finances. I often found myself balancing immediate needs with long-term goals, investing in the vision while navigating the realities of everyday life.
Another challenge has been being underestimated. Throughout my career, I’ve had to prove that my expertise, leadership, and vision deserved a seat at the table. Building a workforce development and speaking business while maintaining a professional career often led people to question whether I could successfully do both. Those experiences taught me to focus less on proving people wrong and more on producing results that speak for themselves.
There have also been moments when I considered walking away. Most recently, transitioning back to New Jersey after spending nearly a decade in Maryland brought significant personal and professional changes. Rebuilding networks, navigating uncertainty, and adapting to a new season of life tested my resilience in ways I did not anticipate.
What has carried me through every challenge is my belief in the power of the pause. When I experience burnout, I don’t view pausing as quitting. I view it as strategy. Pausing allows me to reset, recharge, reflect, and return with greater clarity and purpose. It is one of the reasons I’ve been able to continue building despite setbacks.
Those experiences have shaped how I lead today. They remind me that behind every job seeker, entrepreneur, and emerging leader is a person navigating challenges that may not be visible to others. That understanding influences every workforce system I design, every training I facilitate, and every life I have the privilege to impact through KurlineJSpeaks.
My journey has taught me that resilience is not about never struggling. It’s about continuing to move forward, even when the path ahead isn’t fully clear.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My work sits at the intersection of workforce development, leadership development, and community impact.
As Founder and CEO of KurlineJSpeaks, I partner with nonprofits, workforce agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations to design workforce systems that create measurable outcomes and expand access to opportunity. While many organizations focus on delivering training, I focus on building the structures that help people succeed long after a workshop ends.
Through KurlineJSpeaks, I develop workforce readiness programs, leadership initiatives, professional development curriculum, and career pathway strategies that prepare youth, emerging professionals, justice-impacted individuals, and underserved communities for long-term success. My work helps organizations move beyond activity-based programming and toward systems that strengthen employability, leadership capacity, and economic mobility.
One of the aspects of my work I am most passionate about is helping organizations see workforce development as more than job placement. Workforce development is about creating pathways that allow individuals to grow professionally, lead effectively, support their families, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Whether I am facilitating a workshop, delivering a keynote, designing a workforce framework, or mentoring emerging leaders, my goal remains the same: building stronger people, stronger organizations, and stronger communities.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is simple: start where you are, use what you have, and stay committed to the process.
Many people delay their goals because they believe they need perfect timing, more resources, or complete certainty before taking action. My journey taught me otherwise. I built KurlineJSpeaks while working full-time, navigating financial challenges, and balancing multiple responsibilities. There were many things I did not have, but I focused on what I could do with the resources available to me at the time.
I would also encourage people to stop comparing their beginning to someone else’s middle. Success rarely happens overnight. Most meaningful work is built through consistency, learning, adaptation, and persistence.
Another lesson I have learned is the importance of pausing without quitting. There will be seasons when you need to rest, regroup, or reassess your direction. That does not mean you have failed. Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is pause, gain clarity, and return stronger than before.
Most importantly, remember that impact matters more than recognition. Focus on serving people well, solving real problems, and creating value. When you consistently do that, opportunities, partnerships, and growth tend to follow.
Your current circumstances do not have to determine your future. Keep learning, keep building, and keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kurlinejspeaks.com
- Instagram: @KurlineSpeaks
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurlinejaltes/
- Youtube: @KurlineSpeaks
