Ed Frauenheim is about reinventing masculinity, organizations and society. And connecting the dots among the three, for a more soulful world.

Ed Frauenheim is about reinventing masculinity, workplaces and society--and connecting the dots among the three for a more soulful world. He is a writer, speaker and consultant who has focused on workplace, technology and culture matters for more than 25 years. His stories have been featured in USA Today, Harvard Business Review and Fortune. Ed spent six years as director of content at Great Place to Work, the global consultancy that produces the annual Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. He’s co-written four books, including Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection. 

Michael Welp, PhD. is a Founder and CEO of WMFDP, FDP Global and Full Partner Leadership. For 25 years, Michael has led pioneering workshops using experiential learning methods to shift mindsets, build leadership skills, and grow change agents to create cultures where everyone thrives. 

Earlier in his career, Michael facilitated interracial team-building with over a dozen South African corporations in his work with Outward Bound. 

Michael is the author of the book, Four Days To Change: 12 Radical Habits to Overcome Bias and Thrive in a Diverse World. His TEDx talk, is entitled White Men: Time to Discover Your Cultural Blind Spots. Michael is also the host of The Insider Outsider Podcast. 

Caz leads RBIJ’s Inclusive Hiring team’s first and second chance projects.  Previously, Caz worked at various nonprofits, including program manager: Vera Institute of Justice’s Redefining Public Safety team, Director of Employment Services: Westhab’s NYC and Westchester County shelter employment programs, and Director of Fathers Count: Family Services of Westchester’s Fatherhood Program. There she received a Citation from Mayor Mike Spano for her contribution to Westchester County and the City of Yonkers and a Certificate of Recognition from the Senate of the State of New York for Exemplary Service to the community. In the UK, Caz worked as a probation officer and a youth social worker. 

Jude Higdon, Ed.D. (any pronouns) serves as the COO for the QSIDE Institute. In this role, Jude develops programs and partners with CBOs to use quantitative methods to eradicate oppression, marginalization, and injustice. Jude holds an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, an Ed.M. in Technology in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a B.S. in African Politics from Northwestern University. Jude is an avid yogi, horror movie enthusiast, and news junkie. S/he speaks passable Swahili, Spanish, and French, and slays at karaoke.

Christi Venable is an award-winning Business Owner, Organizational Leadership and Culture Change Expert and Speaker. She’s the founder of SMILE Therapy Services, a multi-million-dollar mental health agency that she managed to build from the ground up. 

Over the years SMILE Therapy has developed an arsenal of workshops that speak to the needs of a diverse market and an ever-changing social climate. Some of the most sought-after topics include Leading with Effective Communication, Leveraging your Leadership Style, Mental Health Spot-Checking, Sexual Harassment, Resiliency, Self-Care and Stress Management, The Power of Patience and many more. 

Christi received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree from George Washington University. Christi Venable is a National Certified Counselor, A Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. 

Francis Joseph Tsai is a Deaf advocate who has been raised in the United States after immigrating from Hong Kong. Growing up in the U.S., Tsai learned about the importance of equity and accessibility for Deaf individuals—values he found lacking in his native Hong Kong.

Now working for Convo Communications, a company dedicated to providing communication services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, Tsai is committed to promoting equal communication access. His advocacy focuses on ensuring that Deaf individuals have the tools, resources, and support needed to navigate a predominantly hearing world. Through his work, Tsai continues to raise awareness about the importance of equity and accessibility for all.