Risha Grant – Big Idea Speakers

Motivated by her passion to correct societal isms like racism, sexism, classism and plain old stupidism, it is Risha’s personal mission to expose the value of Diversity & Inclusion while shining a light on the economic impact it creates. From her race, gender and lifestyle choices, to growing a small business and tackling economic issues, every area of her life intersects diversity.

Founder & CEO of Risha Grant LLC, an award-winning diversity consulting and communications firm, as well as an edgy, educational and motivational speaker, author Risha Grant is an internationally renowned diversity, inclusion and bias expert. She covers these topics as NBC KJRH’s community correspondent and host of the Risha Talks series. Through her Tulsa World column, Risha Talks and as a contributor to Black Enterprise Magazine, she has motivated and educated numerous corporations, associations, and universities. In her book, That’s BS! How Bias Synapse Disrupts Inclusive Cultures and the Power to Attract Diverse Markets and her corresponding “BS” Video Series, Risha has led audiences to new places of respect and understanding. These audiences have included Discover Card Financial Services, Samsung Electronics America, Cox Communications, Wells Fargo, USAA Diversified Financial Group, Boy Scouts of America, U.S. Airforce, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, University of Oklahoma and Roger Williams University, to name a few.

She has been featured in Forbes, The Financial Times, Off Script, Bloomberg Media, Black Enterprise, Engage Magazine, Radioactive Radio, Take the Lead Radio, The Dream Catcher podcast, Money for Life podcast, DJC Oregon Newspaper, The Kansas City Star, WUSA-TV, KVUE-TV, KTLU-TV, WURD Radio, among other local and national media. Risha has also been awarded numerous honors such as being named a 2019 Top 100 HR Influencer by Engagedly, a 2018 Inclusive Leadership Award Winner and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017.

Through her interactive keynotes and deep-dive training sessions, Risha teaches and empowers attendees with D&I tools to increase their bottom line and permission to get rid of their BS.

Videos

Biography

Founder & CEO of Risha Grant LLC, an award-winning diversity consulting and communications firm, as well as an edgy, educational and motivational speaker, author Risha Grant is an internationally renowned diversity, inclusion and bias expert. She covers these topics as NBC KJRH’s community correspondent and host of the Risha Talks series. Through her Tulsa World column, Risha Talks and as a contributor to Black Enterprise Magazine, she has motivated and educated numerous corporations, associations, and universities. In her book, That’s BS! How Bias Synapse Disrupts Inclusive Cultures and the Power to Attract Diverse Markets and her corresponding “BS” Video Series, Risha has led audiences to new places of respect and understanding. These audiences have included Discover Card Financial Services, Samsung Electronics America, Cox Communications, Wells Fargo, USAA Diversified Financial Group, Boy Scouts of America, U.S. Airforce, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, University of Oklahoma and Roger Williams University, to name a few.

Speech Topics

Virtual Sessions-See Topics below….

Take this time of social distancing to unpack the BS in your organization, so that you can begin to build authentic relationships.

Risha Grant is ready for your virtual needs, let her host a live session for your attendees with fun, engaging and interactive segments!

Permission:Granted To Get Rid Of Your BS

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A VIRTUAL EVENT

Whether implicit or conscious, bias is the number one threat to humanity and any company’s success. If your company’s goal is to create cohesiveness within your organization, increase revenue, be innovative and/or elevate your reputation- the bias in your workforce and community is a roadblock. You know the problem. Permission:Granted is your answer.

Throughout this session, Risha allows attendees to authentically express their biases, while giving them easily applicable tools to get over them, however screwed up they may be. Although diversity can often be an uncomfortable topic, Risha’s approach helps attendees to easily understand the concept, without feeling bored or judged.

Risha Grant teaches Diversity & Inclusion through the lens of humanity using terms like BS or Bias Synapse as a way to explain our brain’s involvement in the processing and validation of bias.

Attendees will leave this talk with:

An understanding of Diversity & Inclusion
A thorough awareness of their biases
A realization of how their biases originated
A recognition of the symptoms and results of bias
Tools to address bias internally and externally
Tips to navigate the “hot spots” of workplace diversity

Permission:Granted To Build An Inclusive Culture

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A VIRTUAL EVENT

Building an inclusive culture is imperative to business success. Learn the keys to creating a culture that welcomes all employees, boosts retention and productivity. During this talk, Risha shares applicable tips and strategies to take your company’s culture to the next level.

Session includes:

Keys to attract and retain top diverse talent
Strategies to showcase how an inclusive culture provides a competitive advantage
Stuff she thinks is important (that you should write down) as you establish your inclusive culture

Permission:Granted To Attract Diverse Markets

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A VIRTUAL EVENT

Companies need to know what to say and how to get diverse customers to buy their products and services. Why? Because business sustainability, competitive advantage, a constantly changing economy and about $14 trillion in buying power. During this session, Risha will share with attendees the keys to effectively engaging various diverse groups and provide them with tips on how to create a diversity communications strategy for their company.

Attendees will leave this session understanding how to:

Create a successful diversity communications plan of action
Communicate to diverse audiences
Market to diverse groups vs. mainstream audiences

Testimonials

“I want to say a HUGE thank you to our bureau team and to Risha Grant. Risha’s talk was so impactful and we have received tons of positive feedback from our team. Risha was warm, engaging, and honest with our group. She wasn’t afraid to address many of the challenging topics facing our nation’s businesses and our social groups when it comes to diversity, equity & inclusion. Risha was genuine and relatable to our fully distributed team across 41 states. I highly recommend booking Risha for a virtual keynote. She truly is such a gift and we are grateful for the opportunity to have her speak with our team.”
– Staff Support Specialist, Ad Hoc

“Risha provided an excellent presentation that had record attendance – with some of the highest evaluations ever.
Risha’s presentation teed up a critical conversation for our membership, one that we plan on continuing. Thank you for helping make it a success.”
– CEO, IFEBP

“I just want to take the time to sincerely thank you for everything.

This entire process has been seamless, starting with our bureau agent introducing me to Risha, to Risha’s team assisting with the facilitation, to Risha’s incredible presentation. Our employees have already expressed such incredible feedback and appreciation for Risha’s session, and that means so much to us as an organization. Again, THANK YOU all for the part you have played in ensuring we had a successful event.”
– HR Operations Analyst, NICE Systems

“The American Staffing Association was thrilled to have Risha Grant as a break-out presenter at Staffing World 2019 and she knocked it out of the park! Attendees shared that Risha was energetic and her content was thought provoking. Her engaging storytelling talent and expertise in D&I will bring great value to any adult learner forum. She prepared well for our audience and delivered and provoked as promised! It was a pleasure working with Shannyn and Risha.”
– Director of Education, American Staffing Association

“Risha’s presentation was absolutely amazing and insightful. She captivated the audience and challenged us as HR Professionals to look at what diversity and inclusion really means. We truly appreciate her extraordinary and heartfelt impactful message. Keep up the great work!”
– Committee Co-Chairs, Northwest Human Resource Management Association (NHRMA)

“Risha Grant will bring an energetic discussion of diversity that will make your organization think beyond the obvious. Risha’s superb storytelling abilities keep listeners’ attention from beginning to end.”
– Instructional Designer/Professional Development Coordinator, Northern Oklahoma College

“Risha was wonderful today! She received a standing ovation and was the perfect speaker to wrap up our conference!”
– Senior Project Manager, The Bridge Conference – The Direct Marketing Association of Washington

“We recently had Risha Grant at our 2019 NICA Conference in Sun Valley; we brought Risha as part of our DEI initiative. That sounds like “checking a box.” Far from it. Risha exceeded our expectations and was remarkable, relevant and thought-provoking in her ability to move our initiative from concept to personal transformation with humor along the way. Risha’s warm and real approach touched our audience by connecting her experience, tools, insight, and inspiration into the hearts of our audience for an ultimate change, impact, and influence. Bravo to Risha.”
– VP, Programs – National Interscholastic Cycling Association

“Risha did a fabulous job reminding us that everyone needs “to be the change” in understanding diversity and inclusion in order to affect a long-term, organizational cultural change. She reminded us the starting point is for people is to “unpack your boxes” and look at how they deal with bias. She provided us with a great introduction to a very important issue that requires our attention. I highly recommend her to any business or district looking to have someone who genuinely connects with her audience and knows how to read a community.”
– Assistant Superintendent For HR, Minisink Valley Central School District

“We recently had Risha speak at our annual Women’s Leadership Forum and she was phenomenal! She kept attendees engaged, challenging others to confront their own biases while also sharing her own raw and personal experience and biases. She was authentic in every aspect of the word and a true pleasure to work with!”
– Senior Education Manager – International Association of Exhibitions and Events

“She spoke to over 90 attendees for 10 different Samsung Companies across the USA and Canada. She was inspiring, funny and brutally honest. I really appreciated her ability to tell a story, willingness to share her personal experiences and insight. She was professional and personable.”
– Senior Manager – Samsung, North America

“We had Risha Grant in for our International event in Belfast and she was phenomenal. Risha absolutely crushed it, she is amazing, and had incredible impact. Thank you so much!!!”
– Chief People Officer – Rapid 7