Today's leaders and our communities are increasingly diverse -- and savvy. Which means when an organization sets out to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, and then tell its story to its employees and communities, stakeholders expect more than earnest statements and splashy web pages. They expect organizational leaders to develop real and meaningful pathways for organizational change. To co-create solutions for lasting cultural transformation. To walk the talk. Not once, but every day, every month, every year.

 

When EDI initiatives and messages miss the mark or are undermined by internal sabotage, crises simmer and eventually erupt, undermining leadership credibility both in and outside of the organization. Fallout often goes viral, with legacy media seizing upon social media narratives and amplifying negative posts in today's 24-hour news cycle. An organization's image can nosedive overnight, causing reputational damage that can take months if not years to rebuild. 

 

Fortunately, leaders can avoid unforced missteps by bringing Black, Indigenous and other PR experts of color to the EDI strategy table. Considering that 83.6% of PR professionals in the U.S. are White while only 9.9% are Black, 13.6% Latine, and 5.9% Asian (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019), integrating diverse voices from an organization's communities is critical to intentionally engaging your workforce, creating a vibrant work culture, and building authentic community relationships.

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EDI Strategies, LLC complements the expertise of in-house Equitable Engagement, Social Impact, and other leadership teams. Drawing on decades of strategic communications, racial and social justice advocacy, and community engagement experience in the public, private, and nonprofit spheres, EDI Strategies, LLC is uniquely positioned to provide culturally-responsive strategy and leadership services that can help organizations meet today's ever-shifting challenges.

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AWARD-WINNING EXECUTIVE LEADER & STRATEGIC PARTNER

 

Known for her keen instinct for discerning the big picture, distilling cultural nuances, and identifying opportunities for co-creating win/win solutions, Kimberly M. Reason, Principal & Founder of EDI Strategies, LLC, brings a multi-dimensional range of executive leadership, equity-centered communications, and workforce training and development expertise to her work --- a versatile skills set that uniquely positions her to collaborate effectively with clients, partners and stakeholders to build equitable, inclusive work cultures and achieve organizational initiatives.

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PRIVATE SECTOR, GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

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Kimberly has amassed 35 years of collective experience in leadership training and development, cultural strategy, and equitable project design for a Fortune 500 Company, government agencies, and community-based organizations. Her own leadership experience includes serving as Acting and Deputy Chief of Staff for Sound Transit, the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority; Strategic Advisor for the Seattle City Council; Vice President for Corporate Communications & Media Relations at Macy's Inc., Northwest Division; Executive Director for Legal Voice; and Vice President for Programs at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, among other leadership roles.

 

Since founding EDI Strategies, LLC in 2021, Kimberly has provided equitable consulting services to numerous clients, including Delta Dental of Washington, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Seattle City Light, King County Storm Water Services, Sound Transit, Acora Foundation, the Center for Media & Social Impact at American University, Bellevue College, and Leadership Tomorrow.

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