Lenora Billings-Harris

Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is a 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 serves as an adjunct professor for Arizona State University and is currently on the adjunct faculty of the Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

Having over 25 years of experience in both public and private sectors, diversity, inclusion and disrupting bias is a full-time focus for Billings-Harris. Known for her unique way of presenting sensitive topics in a fun, thought-provoking, and non-judgmental way, she partners with clients to help them leverage their diversity of thought to impact 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. This diversity strategist and author is also the founder and president of UbuntuGlobal, a full-service international DEI consulting and learning and development firm.

Having presented to audiences in over 41 countries and six continents, including such places as Dubai, Israel, South Africa, and Malaysia, Lenora has also had the opportunity to deliver presentations for Fortune 500 companies, professional associations, government agencies, and educational institutions. She held key positions with CIGNA, General Motors, and the University of Michigan, along with the 2006-2007 presidency of the National Speakers Association.

Billings-Harris co-authored "Trailblazers: How Top Business Leaders are Accelerating Results through Inclusion and Diversity," and is the author of "The Diversity Advantage: A Guide to Making Diversity Work." Most recently, she was the cover story for Inclusion Magazine, 2019 winter edition. In addition to her impressive career, she is a past president of Win-Win Resolutions with a mission to reduce bullying, violence and prejudice in schools and communities, and was a founding charter member of the Maricopa County Black Chamber of Commerce. In 2016 she was the Cavett Award recipient, the highest honor bestowed upon professional speakers in the USA. In 2018 she was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame and is the only Africa American woman to hold this honor.