Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa E. Kirkwood. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lisa E. , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

• Jaguar car brand and Bud Light beer have lost (and continue to lose), tens of millions of dollars in revenue and a large market share of consumers due to failed LGBTIQ+ ads intended for the social majority.

• Disengaged employees account for low productivity and high turnover rates, which, in turn, cause increased training and employment expenses.

• Private plaintiff employment discrimination lawsuits cost USA firms between $500 M and $1 B annually.

Lisa E. , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

LISA. E KIRKWOOD – THE TRUE STORIES MERCHANT™
Connecting and Transforming People Through Storytelling

I am a modern Renaissance woman with an international background and multiple areas of expertise. I bring meaningful and amazing stories from all over the world, and I can turn any speech into a mesmerizing experience. Engaging, entertaining, immersive, and inspiring storytelling educates, uplifts, and enlightens the spirit.

Not just European American, I am a “citizen of the world”. I have a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and speak several of them fluently, which can shed light on aspects of diversity that may otherwise be unavailable to a homogenous group of people. My vast experience on multiculturalism can empower others who seek to bridge cultures through better communication, understanding, and appreciation.

For over 30 years, I’ve been a champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, long before these terms were coined together as such. With two decades of professional experience in corporate America, for major banks like Wells Fargo, Kinecta, and Comerica, I have been recognized for my personal contributions to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

I’m a Heroes Extraordinaire Award Winner for Cultural Diversity and the winner of the Diversity Champion Award from Wells Fargo Bank. These awards and others motivated me to share my success story and encourage others to do the same.

Through a series of cultural diversity presentations – Invitation to a Beautiful Country and Living an American Dream, I introduced larger audiences in Midwest to new concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, offering broader perspectives on the world from a first-person narrative.

These types of activities have been very rewarding, personally and professionally, for me to continue my efforts to help connect people of various backgrounds.

I really walk the talk on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I’m a former member of a local Diversity Council at Wells Fargo Bank, and of the Employee Resource Network for Hispanic & Latinos Connection in Midwest. I’m also a former member of Japan America Society of Iowa and of Japan America Society of Southern California, and current member and chairperson of the Diversity Committee of ASIAINA – Assistance Services Institute for Asians in North America – a business and cultural association of Filipino Americans.

There’s a lot more to diversity than just primary dimensions, like race, gender, (dis)ability, and age, and I address this complex notion from multiple perspectives, including secondary dimensions, such as language, culture, religion, socioeconomic background, and other factors, which are equally, if not more important than primary ones to define personal and collective identity.

In addition, I’m an advocate of equality and empowerment, of environmental causes, holistic medicine, and spirituality, on which I provide customized themed consultations, presentations, coaching and mentoring programs.

A master storyteller, I have taken the stage at numerous venues, and by telling people illustrative, enjoyable, and powerful stories that they can relate to, I will keep on sharing my universal message of unity. With a wide media presence, I’ve been a speaker on major platforms like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, IHeart Radio, iTunes, Spotify, and many others.

An accomplished writer, I have been collaborating with multiple magazines and contributing themed, relevant articles on a variety of topics. I’m the author of the programs and upcoming books You’ve Got the Power!™ – for women and men in leadership roles, and Higher Dimensions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion™(DEI) – a comprehensive, transformative educational and training program for both academic and business environments, that empowers people of all walks of life to acknowledge, embrace, integrate, and leverage the notions of DEI for individual, social, and business success.

With preparation, determination and a bit of luck, great things can be accomplished, to make a significant difference for ourselves and for others. The sky is the limit. “Believe in your dreams and follow your heart!”.

As a speaker, I strive to deliver highly engaging speeches that inspire and connect people on a personal level, improve lives, and build better relationships in our global communities. We can all live together in harmony – men, women, and children, regardless of gender or age. We can acknowledge our commonalities and differences, learn to appreciate and understand each other, leverage our talents, and be one unified human species on Planet Earth. Let’s support one another, succeed, and make this world a better place!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the biggest life changes was moving from Europe to America – a new beginning that would offer a lot more opportunities for personal and professional development. Due to my extensive knowledge of foreign languages and cultures, I had very few obstacles impacting my integration. I was keen to pursue the fabled American Dream at its best, and the environment I came into was very embracing and supportive of diversity.

I was quick to learn and make the most of the endless possibilities that the American job market offers. Being multilingual not only made me eligible for better employment, but also helped people in a not-so-diverse workplace reshape their strategies, embrace different approaches, and find new ways of doing things.

Flexibility, innovation, and “thinking outside-the-box” that foreigners can bring to the table, are a tremendous asset for USA-based businesses to enhance their talent pool, social outreach, and their overall efficiency and revenues.

Once settled in the American business environment, I realized that it was time to give back to the community. I served as an event volunteer at Special Olympics – a global sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and I also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity – an American nonprofit organization that helps people in underprivileged communities to move into affordable and high-quality homes.

I became an interviewer, reporter, and editor for worksite newsletters that would highlight the activity and performance of my teams. I had that role for a few years, and now I contribute articles to other magazines. I’m also a member of American Writers & Artists and of The Professional Writers’ Alliance, as well as a member of All American Speakers. Since reading and writing are my passions, I enjoy everything related to the creative process, including filmmaking, and I am an Amazon-published book author myself. I’m a transformational thought leader who brings story magic to life for a wide audience.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The pandemic era was a challenging time for most people and businesses. It’s when I realized that my extensive knowledge on diversity and empowerment would best serve larger communities, as businesses and corporations may not offer this type of training, or it’s only available on a limited basis.

Coming from a financial work environment, I saw an opportunity to not only cater to the needs of various groups of people, but also monetize viable products and services, so I created and refined my programs. You’ve Got the Power!™ , and Higher Dimensions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion™(DEI).

And since that big shift happened in my entrepreneurial career, I continue to create and add new content, and improve upon the existing offer by constantly expanding and optimizing my message for global audiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thetruestoriesmerchant.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaekirkwoodthetruestoriesmerchant/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetruestoriesmerchant

Image Credits

Lisa E. Kirkwood