LaTonya Wilkins

Founder of The Change Coaches and author of Leading Below the Surface: How to Build Real (and Psychologically Safe) Relationships with People Who Are Different from You, LaTonya Wilkins specializes in coaching executives on leading “below the surface” to build psychologically safe relationships with their teams across differences. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and has inspired audiences all over the world. Through highly customized coaching, learning sessions, culture academies, and human-centered design services, LaTonya and her team work with executives, upwardly mobile professionals, and teams to create cultures of belonging, motivating environments, and amplify the “only ones” at work so they feel more valued, heard, and engaged at work.

LaTonya has worked with leaders at many well-known companies including Google, GE, The New York Times, and several nonprofits. She built her career working in HR, talent management, and learning & development at Fortune 500 companies before teaching and taking on progressive leadership roles at the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business.

LaTonya was rated an “excellent” teacher by her undergraduate business students, and she is also a board member of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Association at Indiana University. She is currently the President of the True Star Youth Foundation board, which is a digital media social entrepreneurship company that recently received a Google Impact Award. LaTonya has been featured in publications such as Fast Company, Well+ Good, and Inc Magazine. She also gained global recognition when she was recognized on the most inclusive HR influencer list in 2019.

5 MOST REQUESTED KEYNOTES [Virtual Keynotes & In-Person Keynotes available]

KEYNOTE #1: How to Be An Amazing Ally

This is LaTonya’s most popular talk by far. In this engaging and inspiring talk, LaTonya discusses the truths and myths surrounding allyship. This can focus on allyship from an intersectional, LGBTQ+, race, and/or gender perspective. Audiences will leave the tlk inspired and ready to take action!

KEYNOTE #2: Becoming the Leader the Future Needs: How to Rewire Yourself and Lead with Empathy and Psychological Safety at Front and Center

The workplace has significantly changed in 2021 and we all need to lead differently.
Based on LaTonya’s book, this talk focuses on the three prongs of below the surface leadership (empathy, psychological safety, and REAL Leadership) and how small leadership shifts can lead to big cultural shifts. Be ready to leave this talk inspired and ready to become the type of leader that the future needs.

KEYNOTE #3: Coaching / Leading People That Are Different From You [This Talk is Leadership, Equity and Inclusion focused]

In an ever-changing world, leading now heavily involves doing so with others that are different from you. Without even knowing it, we tend to favor those similar to us. How can we recognize our biases and become exceptional leaders, especially amongst those that are different from us? In this talk, you will learn how to recognize biases and take actions to be extraordinary leaders of others who are different from us.

KEYNOTE #4: Becoming the Equitable Leader You Always Wanted to Be

We hear the word equity quite a bit but what does it truly mean to be an equitable leader? It can be hard for us to get there as the path can be unclear. In this talk, LaTonya will provide you with a rock solid definition of equity and a clear path on how to become the equitable leader you have always wanted to be. She will help you elevate your good intentions into real organizational change.

KEYNOTE #5: How to Take Your ERGs to the Next Level Through Leading Below the Surface

Employee resource groups are more important than ever. How can we supercharge them so they create real culture change? This talk focuses on how applying the three prongs of Below the Surface Leadership (based on LaTonya’s book) can elevate your ERGs to a powerful levels. This is a great talk for both ERG leaders, ERG sponsors, and ERG members.