Talent Engagement in a New Era

Laugh & Learn Keynote

Harmonizing people, productivity, & profit.

Cynthia Overton

Many companies remain deeply committed to creating environments that nurture talent and drive business success. In today's complex corporate landscape, organizations encounter nuanced challenges in developing truly inclusive workplaces.

I specialize in guiding businesses through this shifting terrain, with training and advisory services that:

-Provide insights into current social and legislative trends affecting workplace policies
-Introduce innovative practices to enhance employee engagement and productivity
-Identify synergies between inclusion initiatives and established equal opportunity frameworks
-Refine communication strategies to align with current trends

As neutral third-party facilitators, I create safe, objective spaces for crucial conversations.

Services

Workshop Facilitation

Collective support for teams that are committed to inclusive environments, but need help navigating the evolving social landscape.

Businessman in a suit pointing at a laptop screen in a bright office setting.

Thought Partnership

Targeted support for leaders integrating inclusive practices with strategic business objectives.

Laugh & Learn Keynote

Keynote speech that blends humor and storytelling to challenge disability assumptions and promote inclusion. Learn more here.

My Background

I draw on policy, research, and best practices to help leaders drive decision-making. This has involved:

Leading industry professionals in creating a 26-module certificate program to advance workplace inclusion
Creating and delivering tailored curricula to meet the unique needs of startups
Designing and leading employee resource groups
Convening thought leaders to refine and frame approaches to innovative, inclusive workplace practices in an evolving landscape
Speaking to national and international audiences to foster meaningful discussions on inclusive workplace practices

I hold an M.S. & Ph.D. in Learning Technologies from the University of Michigan, an M.P.S. in Public Relations & Corporate Communications from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in English from Hampton University.

Image of Cynthia Overton sitting on a white chair and holding a microphone.

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"As someone who has worked in organizations severely lacking DEIB, this course has helped me understand how to better avoid that slippery slope and commit to living my values."

- Workshop Participant

"Despite the course's short timespan, it goes above and beyond in expanding your expertise in diversity regardless of skill level. The connections are invaluable, and I enjoy that the staff do their best to keep the environment fun, and low stress to further the sense of belonging."

-Workshop Participant

"This course laid a terrific foundation for how strong DEIB efforts directly benefit our business. I enjoyed thoughtful conversation and walked away with actionable tools to continue to build our own DEIB efforts."

-Workshop Participant

"If you believe the strength of a startup is in its people, (this) workshop will show you how to build a healthy, dynamic culture from the top down."

- Workshop Participant

"I really enjoyed the brainstorming exercise and the assessment of how negative workplace traits show up and have an impact."

-Workshop Participant

“What a great team, what a great course. SO pleased to have these tools going into a building a team in my early-stage startup.”

- Workshop Participant

"As someone who has worked in organizations severely lacking DEIB, this course has helped me understand how to better avoid that slippery slope and commit to living my values."

- Workshop Participant

"Despite the course's short timespan, it goes above and beyond in expanding your expertise in diversity regardless of skill level. The connections are invaluable, and I enjoy that the staff do their best to keep the environment fun, and low stress to further the sense of belonging."

-Workshop Participant

"This course laid a terrific foundation for how strong DEIB efforts directly benefit our business. I enjoyed thoughtful conversation and walked away with actionable tools to continue to build our own DEIB efforts."

-Workshop Participant

"If you believe the strength of a startup is in its people, (this) workshop will show you how to build a healthy, dynamic culture from the top down."

- Workshop Participant

"I really enjoyed the brainstorming exercise and the assessment of how negative workplace traits show up and have an impact."

-Workshop Participant

“What a great team, what a great course. SO pleased to have these tools going into a building a team in my early-stage startup.”

- Workshop Participant

"As someone who has worked in organizations severely lacking DEIB, this course has helped me understand how to better avoid that slippery slope and commit to living my values."

- Workshop Participant

"Despite the course's short timespan, it goes above and beyond in expanding your expertise in diversity regardless of skill level. The connections are invaluable, and I enjoy that the staff do their best to keep the environment fun, and low stress to further the sense of belonging."

-Workshop Participant

"This course laid a terrific foundation for how strong DEIB efforts directly benefit our business. I enjoyed thoughtful conversation and walked away with actionable tools to continue to build our own DEIB efforts."

-Workshop Participant

"If you believe the strength of a startup is in its people, (this) workshop will show you how to build a healthy, dynamic culture from the top down."

- Workshop Participant

"I really enjoyed the brainstorming exercise and the assessment of how negative workplace traits show up and have an impact."

-Workshop Participant

“What a great team, what a great course. SO pleased to have these tools going into a building a team in my early-stage startup.”

- Workshop Participant

Cynthia Overton

Services

My Background

"As someone who has worked in organizations severely lacking DEIB, this course has helped me understand how to better avoid that slippery slope and commit to living my values."

"Despite the course's short timespan, it goes above and beyond in expanding your expertise in diversity regardless of skill level. The connections are invaluable, and I enjoy that the staff do their best to keep the environment fun, and low stress to further the sense of belonging."

"This course laid a terrific foundation for how strong DEIB efforts directly benefit our business. I enjoyed thoughtful conversation and walked away with actionable tools to continue to build our own DEIB efforts."

"If you believe the strength of a startup is in its people, (this) workshop will show you how to build a healthy, dynamic culture from the top down."

"I really enjoyed the brainstorming exercise and the assessment of how negative workplace traits show up and have an impact."

“What a great team, what a great course. SO pleased to have these tools going into a building a team in my early-stage startup.”

"As someone who has worked in organizations severely lacking DEIB, this course has helped me understand how to better avoid that slippery slope and commit to living my values."

"Despite the course's short timespan, it goes above and beyond in expanding your expertise in diversity regardless of skill level. The connections are invaluable, and I enjoy that the staff do their best to keep the environment fun, and low stress to further the sense of belonging."

"This course laid a terrific foundation for how strong DEIB efforts directly benefit our business. I enjoyed thoughtful conversation and walked away with actionable tools to continue to build our own DEIB efforts."

"If you believe the strength of a startup is in its people, (this) workshop will show you how to build a healthy, dynamic culture from the top down."

"I really enjoyed the brainstorming exercise and the assessment of how negative workplace traits show up and have an impact."

“What a great team, what a great course. SO pleased to have these tools going into a building a team in my early-stage startup.”

"As someone who has worked in organizations severely lacking DEIB, this course has helped me understand how to better avoid that slippery slope and commit to living my values."

"Despite the course's short timespan, it goes above and beyond in expanding your expertise in diversity regardless of skill level. The connections are invaluable, and I enjoy that the staff do their best to keep the environment fun, and low stress to further the sense of belonging."

"This course laid a terrific foundation for how strong DEIB efforts directly benefit our business. I enjoyed thoughtful conversation and walked away with actionable tools to continue to build our own DEIB efforts."

"If you believe the strength of a startup is in its people, (this) workshop will show you how to build a healthy, dynamic culture from the top down."

"I really enjoyed the brainstorming exercise and the assessment of how negative workplace traits show up and have an impact."

“What a great team, what a great course. SO pleased to have these tools going into a building a team in my early-stage startup.”

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