Mary-Frances Winters

Mary-Frances Winters, founder and CEO of The Winters Group, Inc., a 38-year-old global diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice consulting firm, is deeply committed to her work in diversity and inclusion, viewing it as both a passion and a calling. Over the past three decades, she has influenced hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals with her thought-provoking message and strategic approach. Winters is a master strategist with extensive experience in strategic planning, change management, organization development, training and facilitation, systems thinking, and qualitative and quantitative research methods, particularly in collaborating with senior leadership teams to drive organizational change.

Among her many recognitions, she was named a diversity pioneer by Profiles in Diversity Journal in August 2007, received the Winds of Change award from the Forum on Workplace Inclusion in 2016, and was featured in Forbes’ June 2016 publication, which recognized some of the DC Metro area’s most powerful women. Additionally, in November 2019, Forbes named her one of 10 trailblazers in diversity and inclusion. Winters has also been acknowledged for her contributions to women and the community as a previous recipient of the Athena Award from the Chamber of Commerce, and she has proudly served as a torchbearer for the Olympics.

Winters is an accomplished author, having written several influential books including “Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit” (September 2020), “Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy, and Belonging Across Differences” (August 2020), “We Can’t Talk about That at Work!: How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics” (2017), “Only Wet Babies Like Change: Workplace Wisdom for Baby Boomers,” “Inclusion Starts With 'I'”, and “CEO’s Who Get It: Diversity Leadership from the Heart and Soul.” She also contributed a chapter to "Diversity at Work: The Practice of Inclusion" (2013) and has written numerous articles.

Winters completed her undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology at the University of Rochester and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the William E. Simon Executive Development Program. She has been honored with an honorary doctorate from Roberts Wesleyan College. Currently, she serves on the board of Trustees of The University of Rochester, The board of Visitors for Johnson C. Smith University, and The Council on Black Health.