The best boss I’ve ever had, Khotso Khabele, was the founder and executive director of The Khabele School- a progressive learning community that I taught at for 12 years. Khotso was an inspiring leader, entrepreneur and trailblazer who effortlessly combined visionary mindset with radical empathy.

My name is Chalimar Chieza and I live in my hometown, Austin, Texas with my husband, Tatenda and our three kids and two dogs. I’m the youngest of three siblings in a very competitive and talented family. When I was younger, I went through the house-buying and design process with my parents multiple times. I loved being in the studio, helping decide the finish out for our houses, and when my older brother and I had the opportunity, we went to open houses and home tours as much as possible.

I grew up in Austin back when it still felt like a big small town, and while the city has changed dramatically over the years, my connection to it never has. After leaving Austin to attend university in Fort Worth, I eventually found my way back home, where I built a career in education and spent years teaching in both public and private schools.