Travels from North Carolina, USA
Lenora Billings-Harris's speaking fee falls within range: $10,000 to $15,000
Noted for her ability to take complex diversity concepts and distill them into practical applicable strategies, Lenora Billings-Harris weaves inclusion, leadership, management and African-American history into the fabric of her speeches. The Society of Human Resource Management have named her one of their 100 global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion, and Diversity Woman Magazine chose her as one of the top 20 most influential diversity leaders in the USA.
Billings-Harris’ expertise is much sought after around the world, having given presentations in more than 20 countries on 6 continents. Two years after the fall of the Soviet Union, she was invited to travel to Russia and Ukraine as part of the People to People International delegation, helping educators and business leaders make the transition to a new era of global competition. Recent travels have included conferences in Cape Town, South Africa and Tel Aviv, Israel.
Amongst Billings-Harris’ published work is her book The Diversity Advantage: A Guide to Making Diversity Work and (as co-author) TRAILBLAZERS: How Top Business Leaders are Accelerating Results through Inclusion and Diversity. She is a member of the adjunct faculty of the business schools of Averett University and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She is devoted to community service, with a focus on the eradication of bias and educating leaders about the impact of inclusion.
Billings-Harris holds Certified Professional Speaker status (something only 5% of professional speakers attain), has been president of the National Speakers Association and in 2014 was president of the Global Speakers Federation.
Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is a CPAE (Council of Peers Award of Excellence) Hall of Fame speaker and an internationally recognized authority in the areas of inclusion, diversity, and bias. She has been included as one of the 100 Global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion by the Society of Human Resource Management and was named by Diversity Woman Magazine as one of the twenty top influential diversity leaders in the US. Her award-winning diversity leadership research is recognized in academic journals internationally. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Council of the Nido Qubein School of Communication, High Point University, as well as on the adjunct business faculty of two other universities.
Diversity, inclusion and disrupting bias is a full-time focus for Lenora. She partners with clients to help them leverage their diversity of thought to impacts employee talent engagement and retention, attracting customers, community, and corporate relations. Her powerful yet engaging style inspires virtual and in-person audience members to take personal and organizational actions that disrupt bias and accelerate bottom-line business results.
She has presented to audiences in over 41 countries and six continents, including such places as Dubai, Israel and South Africa and Malaysia.
UBUNTU – I am because we are. We are because I am.
This South African proverb describes the foundation of my philosophy regarding diversity and inclusion concepts, strategies and actions.
Diversity, inclusion, respect and fairness are concepts that make some people reluctant to discuss them. I work hard to create a safe, nonjudgmental and uplifting environment that makes exploring sensitive topics a positive journey for all. Most importantly our participants leave our sessions with knowledge to activate easy to apply actions, and a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed. All programs, processes and resources reflect my belief that we are all more effective, productive and innovative when we honor and value our own uniqueness while at the same time valuing and respecting the differences of others.
Lenora Billings-Harris explains what it is that she does to help companies and organizations improve their sensitivity to and management of diversity. She says, “It was about giving people an opportunity to have a safe place to talk about a difficult topic. And so what I do today is I help organizations create that space so that they can appreciate the diversity of their employees and their customers and make it a competitive advantage." She outlines the reasons her diversity presentations are so much in demand: “Big business, in fact any business, doesn't do diversity work simply because it's the right thing to do, they do it because it's going to have bottom-line impact, and regardless of whether you are actually doing work internationally or you're only doing work in your community, you could be a non-profit organization working in your community, the point is there are no communities that are not diverse, because, once again, diversity is all of us, not just certain groups." Pointing out the inherent advantages of encouraging diversity, she explains, “The more we understand the groups that we serve, and the groups that we interact with, the more effective our bottom line is, whether it's bottom line dollars, or bottom line from a public relations point of view, or from a customer services point of view."
Billings-Harris’ presentations are all about inclusion; she does not view diversity as a hurdle to be overcome but as a positive force that can be utilized to gain competitive advantage. Setting out her vision of Transformational Diversity Management Principles, she shows how inclusiveness and multiculturalism, properly managed, can not only make for a happier workplace but also significantly improve the bottom line.
Billings-Harris offers presentations on many different types of inclusion; she gives valuable insights into the management of generational differences in the workplace, cross gender communication and ending cultural collisions by the use of effective communication. Her energetic, fun, practical and thought-provoking programs are perhaps best described by the title of one of her own presentations, Turning Barriers into Bridges.
TURNING BARRIERS INTO BRIDGES BY DISRUPTING BIAS™
As the dramatic shift to a highly diverse and expressive workforce continues, leaders know they must create the culture that embraces an understanding, acceptance of differences as well as similarities. They know the cultural and racial backgrounds and experiences of diverse employees and clients can enrich the organization, making it more innovative and competitive.
Enhancing your ability to recognize micro-affirmations and micro-aggressions enables you to work more effectively with all team members while appreciating the diversity of thought they bring to the organization. The added benefit is the skills learned can be used professionally and personally thus reducing stress and enhancing positive interactions.
This interactive, non-judgmental, and fun program provides an opportunity for you to discover your own level of knowledge and understanding of people different from you, and then apply the principles of inclusion to build relationships. By exploring the biases that inform some behaviors and impede productivity, you will be better equipped to turn barriers into bridges and focus on inclusive actions when you return to their organization.
Takeaways: As a result of attending this session, you will be able to: - Improve your awareness of the impact of biases - Limit the influence of hidden biases on decisions - You will be able to apply the 4-Part Compass to expand your cultural competence
S.T.O.P. — TECHNIQUE FOR REDUCING CULTURAL COLLISIONS
How to Diminish Cultural Collisions through Courageous Conversations
Inclusive cultures encourage courageous conversations.
There are barriers, booby traps, and blocked roadways on our journey toward achieving a culturally competent work environment. People say and do things in the workplace without malice of intent, but nonetheless, some of these actions create a less than inclusive environment.
The biggest barrier to giving feedback when these challenging situations occur is fear. The major reason people do not speak up when they experience micro-aggressive behaviors is they do not know how to do so, especially if they must interact with the colleague on a regular basis.
Lenora’s four-step process called S.T.O.P. is easy to use and produces successfully results. It works because there is no blame or shame in the process. Sign up now for this skill-based session to learn a technique that can be used at work, home, and even with children.
Takeaways: - Identify common micro-aggressions that impact relationships - Apply the 4-step S.T.O.P. feedback process to disrupt micro-aggressions - Determine when to use S.T.O.P. as an observer or when you are the offender - Actions for Allies dialogue process
CANDID CONVERSATIONS: GOING BEYOND THE INCLUSION ILLUSION
Are you ready to go beyond multicultural awareness? Are you ready to create a respectful, engaging environment that utilizes its diversity of talent to gain a competitive advantage? If so, this program is for you. By participating in this session, you will be able to:
- Define a practical framework for creating a safe space for constructive conversations with individuals, and teams related to race, gender, social issues and other sensitive topics. - Examine approaches that strengthen your ability to be an ally, an advocate to expand the sense of belonging for all team members. - Experience TTEC’s Humanify BOTS (an AI technology).
This presentation is skill-based and is designed for people who have completed the Turning Barriers to Bridges by Disrupting Bias workshop or other DEI awareness session.
Join Lenora for this virtual or in-person session. You will leave with actionable tactics and strategies that drive success with sensitive conversations.
“Thank you for the candor and grace in which you deliver this message. You edified our strategy today and created new insight for many of our leaders.” – ERIC FULBRIGHT, DIRECTOR-INCLUSION & DIVERSITY, BEST BUY
“Great Diversity & Inclusion expert. Lenora weaves her years of experience into a science-based approach on the topic. She’s energetic, easy to work with and commands a room.” – TD AMERITRADE
“I’ve been working with Lenora for about half a year to implement and deliver Unconscious Bias training at Ketchum. Words cannot properly express how thrilled I am with Lenora as a facilitator of this content. She has created the space for people to process the material in an open and safe way and make real changes to the ways that they work with others and make decisions. The feedback we’ve received about Lenora has been endlessly positive, with colleagues saying that Lenora was extremely engaging, made them feel comfortable discussing sensitive subjects, and helped them uncover their own biases. On a personal level, Lenora has taught me so much and influenced me greatly. She is a tremendous speaker and facilitator and has the powerful ability to engage and change minds. I look forward to continuing to follow Lenora’s success.” – JULIA DRANOV, ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS CONSULTANT AT KETCHUM
“We are raving fans of Lenora Billings-Harris at Amway! She is an outstanding speaker, facilitator and overall expert in Diversity & Inclusion. We have worked with her on several occasions and every time she delivers far beyond what is expected! Lenora was a huge hit as a keynote for the 2017 West Michigan International Women’s Day event. In addition, her keynote on Unconscious Bias: The Wizard of Oz Perspective and her STOP: 4 Keys to Courageous Conversations workshop were “sold out” and rated in the top sessions offered during our internal company Spring learning conference.” – LYNNETTE COLLINS, DIRECTOR, TALENT ENABLERS, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT AMWAY
“Our passion at Farmers Bank is to treat our staff with the highest respect and appreciation. Outside the bank our customers are our greatest treasure. We wanted to be sure we understood DEI, the history that brought our country to this point, and the initiative and direction we needed to take to insure the success of our intentions. We really did not know where to start. We employed Lenora and she did not disappoint. We listened and incorporated her advice and counsel and came out of the gate quickly. I am proud of the fact that Lenora has positioned us well ahead of our peers. We will continue to use her wise counsel as we progress to our intended goals. Thank you Lenora.” – RICHARD J. HOLLARD, JR. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, FARMERS BANK
“We engaged Lenora to assist in educating and informing us about what an effective and impactful DE&I initiative might look like. We were not disappointed. We emerged from the engagement with a strong foundation, a vision and a formal strategic plan on which to execute. We’re excited about the many possibilities and opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our employees, customers, shareholders and the communities we serve. Lenora was inspiring and a pleasure to work with.” – VERNON TOWLER, PRESIDENT/CEO
“How do we begin to thank YOU for setting the right tone for the day… and for your impactful presentation… and basically just blowing everyone away with your style, intellect and delivery. One of the attendees shared with me that they felt they were the only one in the room when you were speaking. You have won over quite a few fans… my entire team included!!!” – ETHEL ISAACS WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR, ENGAGEMENT, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT NEXTERA ENERGY
“Lenora Billings Harris is an awesome consultant and speaker. I have had the pleasure of working with Lenora for the past year and she has performed exceptionally. It is seldom that healthcare clinicians and staff agree on process and learning. Lenora conducted several training presentations for our management teams and received an overall rating of excellent each time. Lenora is not only extremely knowledgeable and organized, but more importantly, she is flexible and a good listener. I was particularly impressed with Lenora’s approach to the work. She has a positive personality and a good sense of humor. She consistently displayed ease and confidence in her presentation style. Many employees spoke of her ability to authentically interact and engage with them. Without hesitation, I highly recommend Lenora.” – MELODY POWELL, MANAGER, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT SUTTER HEALTH
“Thank you! You were a HUGE hit. What a talent you have for being thoughtful, inspiring and practical. You gave us much to think about and real actions. So appreciative!” – NANCY HOWELL AGEE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CARILION
“You were an absolute joy and pleasure to have here. At one point during last night’s presentation, when someone from the audience came up with an off-the-wall comment, you handled it so well that I turned to Andy and said “that’s a true professional; she’s better than a stand-up comedian dealing with a heckler,” and I meant it.” – ROBERT MASOOD, PRESIDENT, PMI-RHODE ISLAND
“Presentation style, dynamic personality, and diversity expertise made every moment of this customized program phenomenal.” – SUE KRUPA, TERRY AHEARN AND KEVIN CHAPMAN, AT&T
“Since hearing you speak, I find myself feeling fulfilled when applying the principles I learned from you. My interactions with people from all walks of life are more meaningful. Please know that your gifts continue to give all season long. Keep being the difference!” – GLORIA RESPRESS-CHURCHWELL, M.A. AND M.F.A.
“Your presentation contributed to our conference theme “Recovery, Revitalization & Resurgence Beyond Crisis” through your outstanding presentation, “Turning Battier into Bridges: How to Accelerate Results through Inclusive Actions”. Overall, your presentation gave our members tools to improve their leadership, enhance their business, and leverage the opportunities that exist for success beyond the crisis. I have heard from many attendees that your presentation increased their awareness of unconscious bias and gave them tools to strengthen trust to improve their business.”
“Your session, “The Diversity Advantage” had a powerful impact on our group as evidenced by the standing ovation they gave you.” – FILEMON LOPEZ, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
“You did your homework!” – DEBRA ELLIS, SR. HUMAN RESOURCE ADVISOR, MOBIL OIL
“Reinforced the ideas of treating people the way they want to be treated. Reminded me to be aware, to be sensitive and to not assume.” – PAT MANCINI, VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA
“Program as a Business Initiative…in the broadest sense, and not just on the race and gender issues.” – JIM BETTS, DIRECTOR HUMAN RELATIONS, DOMINOS PIZZA INC.
“Your presentation was an integral component of our Diversity Summit. We walked away with more than just a few philosophical ideals; we learned how to put diversity and inclusion into action.” – TERRI HAMILTON BROWN, SR. VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL CITY BANK
“Relevance of the material and the powerful way in which you presented it.” – KEITH BEATTY, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE, RITZ CARLTON
“Your contributions were significant in creating a unique energy throughout the company that will remain a part of all of us for a long time to come.” – DAVE PELLICCIONI, GROUP VICE PRESIDENT-SALE AND MARKETING, TOYOTA
“Excellent reviews and comments on the class evaluation forms that your dynamic presentation skills and thorough knowledge of the subject matter made for one of the most effective diversity training sessions for our employees.” – LAWRENCE BREDE JR., SR. VICE PRESIDENT AND SR. MANAGER, WACKENHUT
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Think of a leader/manager in your life who really motivated you to be the best you could be. What attributes or characteristics describe him or her? What habits did he or she have that worked for you? Over the past two years, I have asked hundreds of leaders that question.
The specific word, diversity, was rarely used when people described their best, favorite, or most effective manager. However, fairness, respect, objectiveness, and listening recurred frequently. These attributes describe an effective manager and leader. The key within a diverse environment is to be able to practice these behaviors with all contributors, rather than only employees with whom you are most comfortable.
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