MEET THE SPEAKERS
A Virtual Interactive Summit 
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE US
What's Race Got To Do With It?  
Friday, February 7, 2025
​FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
​4pm GMT (1600)  •  11am EST  • 10am CST •  9am MST • 8am PST
Black History IS American History


KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & PANEL MODERATOR
DR. KATHRYN JOHNSON COLEMAN
​United States

Dr. Kathryn J. Coleman is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of talent and culture transformation expertise within Fortune 500 companies. Known for her track record in leading large-scale transformation initiatives, talent processes, and analytics, she has made impactful contributions across industries, including grocery retail, manufacturing, consumer healthcare, and higher education.

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Her career highlights include serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Talent and Diversity Officer at 3M, along with leadership roles at SUPERVALU, the University of Minnesota, and William Mitchell College of Law.


Dr. Coleman is the founder of KJC Consulting, an HR consultancy, and hosts the I Hear You podcast, aimed at demystifying workplace dynamics. She recently joined Washburn Center for Children as VP of Culture, leading HR.  


Dr. Coleman has served on numerous local and national boards and has been recognized for her leadership and dedication to talent equity. Her awards include the 2023 Community Leadership Award from Celebrating Sistas, the 2022 Trailblazer Award from Women of Color in Pharma, the 2017 Circle and Flame Honorary Fellow Award, and the 2015 Peter C. Thorpe Leadership Award.

​She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration, an M.A. in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. in Psychology from Macalester College.

PROF. WILLIAM "LEZ" HENRY
​United Kingdom

Please note that some words in this biographical profile are spelled in accordance with British language practices.

Dr William Lez Henry (PhD) was born in the London borough of Lewisham and is of Jamaican parentage and is the Director of PWH Consultancy Services Ltd. He is the British Reggae Deejay Lezlee Lyrix and is a writer, poet and community activist renowned as a first-rate public speaker.


Prof Henry has sole-authored several journal articles, books, and chapters in books and has written and published extensively on many of the concerns of the African/Black Diaspora in the UK and beyond. Prof Henry has been featured in numerous documentaries and current affairs television and radio programmes. He has lectured nationally and internationally on behalf of private and public organisations/institutions.


Prof Henry lectures in the areas of criminology, sociology, social anthropology, Black history, whiteness studies, race, education, ethnicity, gender, youth justice, and cultural studies, and delivers educational programmes in community and grass-roots settings, as well as in universities, schools and colleges.


Moreover, with a keen interest in the counter-cultures of the African Diaspora, especially as recorded through the lens of popular cultural forms such as reggae music, his perspective makes known the historical Black British and Caribbean influence/contribution to the social, cultural and political struggles of the global African Diaspora, against White supremacist thought and action.


Prof Henry is a founder member of the National Independent Education Coalition and The Lewisham Black Fathers Support Group. Prof Henry has also led study tours to Egypt.


Prof Henry has a passion for martial arts and holds a Shodan Black Belt in IKK Kyokushinkai Karate. He is also a 3rd Degree Black Belt, Senior Instructor with London Hung Kuen, Five Animals, Shaolin Kung Fu.


Email: [email protected] Twitter – @DrLezhenry
LinkedIn – William Lez Henry
YouTube – Prof William Lez Henry
www.proflez.co.uk 

BILL WELLS, JR
Lead Program & Panel Organizer
​United States

Bill Wells is President, W. Wells & Associates, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy development. In his work, Additionally, Bill provides customized human capital and talent acquisition & retention solutions as well. Bill also works closely with senior leaders providing coaching and guidance during culture change and transformation.
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Previously, Bill served as Vice President - Global Diversity/Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) for Traveler's Insurance. Earlier in his career, Bill held a variety of executive and general management level positions in both the telecommunications industry, including leadership roles in Human Resources, Information Technologies, Marketing, Operations, Strategic Planning, and Business Development.

Bill holds an MBA degree with a major in Marketing, a graduate certificate in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Psychology major. Bill is a life member of the National Black MBA Association, including former Chairman, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Also, Bill is married, has two sons, two grandchildren, is a freelance writer, avid music-lover, jazz enthusiast, and enjoys golf.

Friday, February 7, 2025
​FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
​4pm GMT (1600)  •  11am EST  • 10am CST •  9am MST • 8am PST