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

Reeshemah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Corporate America is well aware that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) demand a significant time and a steadfast commitment to lasting impact. However, when discussing the necessary strategies and extensive work, the typical response involves quick tweaks and a quest for rapid actions to showcase commitment, aside from merely hiring a consultant.

There’s often an underestimation of the substantial effort by a consultant and the amount of research required to bring resources and effective strategies to help reshape company culture. There’s often a misjudgment of the team’s genuine enthusiasm for active participation in this transformative work. The ones working on it are the ones that are committed to it. It’s the entire team that must be onboard. That’s not easy!

Unfortunately, DEI efforts find themselves under siege. As a DEI Strategist, I feel pressured to demonstrate immediate effectiveness, but this urgency can compromise the genuine intention and method behind the work.

As a consultant, a considerable portion of my time is spent rallying the core group necessary for implementation and ensuring sustainable progress. On the flip side, there are instances where teams ask for guidance and support from leadership, but I’m brought in with minimal direction for change, leading to unsustainable outcomes. It only takes a few conversations for me to discern whether someone is merely using the right language without being genuinely committed to true change. This becomes evident in focus groups and one-on-one conversations. The challenge lies not only in advocating for DEI but in fostering a culture that embraces and sustains it.

People make up the organizations, so we must focus on the people!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a DEI Systems Change Strategist and Executive Coach, I help leaders examine and redefine their approach to inclusivity by providing sustainable solutions and executive coaching that transforms their workplace culture. With over 20+ years as a senior leader of a national nonprofit, I launched my own business as a strategist and executive coach after discovering my new purpose, values, and desire to overcome leadership challenges.

EMBOLDEN Action, LLC was created out of several attempts over the years and placed on the back shelf because of the promotions and other career accolades I thought at the time were more important. Then, the pandemic happened, and I was left without a choice or direction for my career. I loved what I did for a national non-profit and decided to continue to do what I loved. This allowed me to be my own entrepreneur and business owner and make a difference more directly without the gatekeeping that sometimes existed within a structured 9-5.

My company is different than other DEI consultants because I focus on 1) intercultural development for the person – learning about themselves and their own culture and how they navigate other cultures, 2) systems thinking – we are all a part of the inequities that exist in this country, we have to recognize our part within the system, and 3) coaching – I infuse coaching and self-exploration in my practice with clear action plans.

We work with non-profits and corporations in most industries.

I’ve been in business for over three years and am very proud of the EMBOLDEN Action brand and work. Organizational leaders call me when they need services such as DEI Strategy & Implementation, Executive Coaching (Individual & Group), Leadership Assessments, and organizational change management projects. My services help clients improve their workplace culture to be more inclusive and develop leaders to strengthen their skills.

I am most proud of my company and the ability to connect quickly with our clients, so much so that I am seen as one of the team within several organizations. Relationship building is a crucial competency for me. It really is the anchor of my success. And why clients refer and return for additional services. I am also proud of the coaching services which have recently been added. I have found that many leaders are tired of the conference and checkbox training. My coaching clientele has enjoyed the personal focus on leadership development. I’m excited to see it flourish in the coming years.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

EMBOLDEN Action, LLC was built on my resilience. At first, I was not a fan of that word – resilience – because I felt like every challenge I had in life was about being resilient, finding opportunities, and pushing my feelings down to see the strength to move forward and ignore all the noise around me. Starting EMBOLDEN Action 3 months after my successful non-profit career ended because the entire world shut down is resilience! The anxiety and fear I had were enormous. How would I pay for my essentials and my daughter’s college – she was a freshman at the time….starting her life. I took on consultant jobs that I needed to figure out how to do. I was facilitating – which a former supervisor said needed work – and I believed him; that comment stayed in my head for years. I stumbled over words and failed to connect with the audience. I felt I was going to be done before I started. Then I had to dig deep, I mean deep into my soul and faith and tap into resilience at the moment. I spent so much time trying new ways of “showing up” and dealing with imposter syndrome. I lost who I was for a moment and quickly realized that I had no time to spin my wheels and try 50 different ways to secure clients, put my name out there, or refine my resources multiple times. I quickly grounded myself in my work experience and the ability to connect with senior leaders, teams, and lead teams. I was an experienced leader in the non-profit world. That is what I leveraged during my client conversations and used strategies I knew were successful in my consulting work. I grew up in a military family. I know about changing environments. This new environment is what I know, and I challenged myself to do well. I’m glad to see myself on the other side of it, and I’m ready for the next level of demonstrating my resilience.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Earlier on, I found myself trying out what other DEI consultants and coaches were doing, and it was overwhelming and didn’t align with my voice. My effective strategy is a consistent online presence with my blog series; I also post periodically on LinkedIn, and I have an IG page. I utilize my networks to share updates, ask for referrals, and explore and collaborate with other consultants where I may partner or support their work. I have a partnership now where I provide coaching services to the client, and the other consultant is doing the DEI strategy work. It’s a win-win. These various strategies have provided steady names of potential clientele. Lastly, I have recently leveraged my licensed coaching experience to secure potential clients for consulting. It’s all about having multiple services to grow with current clients and onboard clients at different service levels.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emboldenaction.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emboldenaction/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/reeshemahldavis