Tish Norman was named 2023 Speaker of the Year by the Greek University Speaking Agency. Ms. Norman is the lead trainer and founder of Transforming Leaders Now, Inc., a consultancy specializing in diversity, equity & inclusion, and corporate training solutions. A skilled “edutrainer” with instructional experience at every level, Tish has experience working with leading brands in the career development industry, primarily focusing on DE&I and Interpersonal Skills.

Tish is a highly regarded international workshop presenter on various educational circuits, which is why her learning and development experiences have become favorites among several universities and leadership conferences. She is venerated for delivering tailored, measurable training solutions for corporate, government, and non-profit organizations of all sizes. Her most popular presentations include “Mindset & Motivation to be Successful in College,” “Dismantling Bias in Fraternity & Sorority Life,”& “Memory and Black Fraternalism”.

Tish is a contributing author of seven books and five published articles and has received various awards, including the Daniel Bentley Communicator Award, the Ross Szabo Speaker Award, & a finalist in Campus Activities Magazine’s Speaker-of-the-Year.

Tish has delivered over 1,000 paid talks throughout her career, including presenting her research at the Dr. Joseph H. McMillan National Conference on The Black Family in America and the National Council for Black Studies. Having spoken in 46 states and 14 countries, Tish maintains an active speaking schedule, keynoting at dozens of leadership conferences and campuses every year. Tish is an adjunct professor of African-American History at Kentucky State University, her alma mater. She has a Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

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This keynote challenges traditional notions of “fitting in” and emphasizes taking personal responsibility for creating environments where everyone truly feels they belong. Or should we?

Led by a certified DEI master trainer, participants will explore various dimensions of identity, bias, stereotypes, acceptance, and prejudice by examining practical strategies for fostering inclusive and welcoming spaces.

Learning Outcomes:

- Gain a deep understanding of creating an inclusive environment where individuals don't just 'fit in' but genuinely 'belong'. This includes exploring the differences between inclusion and diversity and the impact of inclusion on personal and academic success.
- Learn to identify and critically examine their own biases and the systemic biases within educational institutions. This objective aims to cultivate self-awareness and proactively challenge prejudices and stereotypes.
- Learn how to facilitate open dialogues, support diverse perspectives, and implement policies and practices that promote a sense of belonging for all individuals.
- Learn how to apply the principles of inclusion to various scenarios, preparing them to address challenges and opportunities related to diversity and belonging in their personal and professional lives.
- Equip participants with the skills and confidence to be advocates for inclusion in their communities and future workplaces.

Tough conversations are necessary for growth, and within the fraternity and sorority culture, traditions like applications, acceptance, denial, membership dues, vows of secrecy, discretion, and oaths, can fraternal organizations really practice inclusion AND exclusiveness?

Ms. Norman incorporates personal reflections, historical references, and group discussions around a transformative journey toward enlightenment, understanding, and practicing genuine inclusion without compromise.

Learning Outcomes:

- Examine traditional practices within fraternity and sorority culture.
- Learn to identify aspects of these traditions that may be at odds with inclusive practices.
- Understand the challenges and opportunities for fostering inclusivity within exclusive organizations.
- Explore how to implement genuine inclusion practices within the context of exclusive organizations like fraternities and sororities.
- Learn to balance the unique aspects of fraternal organizations with the need to be inclusive and welcoming to diverse members.
- Reflect on historical and current practices and their impact on inclusivity, leading to a deeper understanding of creating a culture of belonging within exclusive groups.

This forward-thinking keynote delves into the view of Black History Month not as an isolated event but as a catalyst for ongoing change. As a veteran speaker and Black History scholar, Tish Norman brings a unique perspective that intertwines historical insights with the pressing imperatives of the contemporary world.

Learning Outcomes:

- Break down the concrete benefits of equity, exploring how it positively impacts innovation, creativity, and overall organizational performance.
- Empower listeners with the knowledge and tools to actively contribute to and benefit from diversity in thought & equitable environments, preparing them for success on campus and beyond.
- Provide actionable strategies for developing inclusive leadership skills, emphasizing how normalizing Black History every day is a moral imperative and a strategic advantage in today's interconnected world.

What are relevant topics for students entering the workforce? In our global society, what is the relationship between campus diversity and the development of workforce competencies?

Arguments for and against the erasure of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in campuses and corporations are at the forefront of conversation in the world house.

An equitable approach and outcome requires an informed understanding of the complex social and organizational dynamics. In this program, Ms. Norman highlights the multifaceted value of DEI in educational and corporate settings, emphasizing its role in promoting academic excellence, social justice, and workforce readiness. So the question is, “Are you ready?”

Learning Outcomes:

- Students will learn how DEI initiatives align with compliance and accreditation standards in educational and corporate settings that mandate or encourage implementing DEI policies.
- Students will explore the relationship between campus diversity and how DEI initiatives prepare students for a diverse and inclusive workplace, enhancing their ability to navigate and succeed in a global business environment.
- Students will understand the potential impacts of erasing or sustaining DEI initiatives.
- Students will gain an understanding of the unique needs of diverse populations in educational and corporate environments, ensuring alignment with broader goals of social justice and academic excellence.

The ability to be resilient during challenging times is what great individuals do. Historically, everyday people like you and I emerged AND CAN emerge as leaders because we navigated the unimaginable, persevered, and took a personal stand. We adjusted, reset, got our “mind right” and overcame a multitude of challenges… kinda like what we are faced with right now!

In this inspirational and motivational presentation, Tish Norman not only empowers participants with the fundamentals of focus, awareness, resiliency and the mindset that will enable them to overcome obstacles, but more importantly, she shares real-life experiences, historical references, and culturally-relevant fundamentals that will equip your students to attain personal, academic, career, and leadership success.

Get ready for an exceptional presentation, by an expert presenter, that will empower your students with 5 indispensable traits that help them lead through change and transition!

Learning Outcomes:

- Participants will learn about the ideals of change management and why these fundamentals can help them navigate and overcome challenges as a leader in critical times.
- Participants will discover how their mindset determines their resiliency and key strategies that help them break through barriers that may be preventing them from reaching their fullest potential.
- Participants will explore key leadership styles and characteristics that are needed during crises in order to help the members of their organization persevere and overcome challenging situations and changing circumstances.
- Participants will learn practical, sustainable behaviors to help them thrive and succeed in times of crisis.
- Participants will learn how to turn failure, rejection, and other negative circumstances into positive outcomes that lead them toward personal growth, increased productivity, performance, and leadership effectiveness.

One College Nation is HIGHLY interactive by nature and truly separates itself from your average DE&I program with an experiential learning experience that is not only transformational, educational, fun, and very impactful, but it uses inspiring interaction, community building exercises, live music, engaging activities and education all centered around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to create an incredible experience for students and professionals.

With this specific edition of One College Nation developed for members of different fraternities and sororities, Tish Norman and Dr. Joshua Fredenburg use their experiences as DEI professionals, international speakers, and members of the Greek Community to deliver a customized program designed to help fraternity and sorority members develop the DE&I skills that are needed to help them build stronger inclusive communities between different fraternities and sororities, appreciate the diversity that exists within our different communities, develop stronger cultural competence, create stronger intercultural relationships amongst one another, and become a stronger and more unified Greek community within their campus communities.

Learning Outcomes:

- Participants will not only appreciate the diversity that exist within our different fraternities and sororities, but they will develop the cultural competence that is needed to create stronger relationships amongst each other’s.
- Participants will recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusive within our different communities while also developing a set of skills that will enable them to serve and lead diverse groups of people more effectively as an inclusive leader.
- Participants will learn about the key components that are needed to create an inclusive winning community that provides a sense of belonging for all the member of their fraternity and sorority.
- Participants will not only learn how to identify and eradicate different microaggressions and unconscious biases that negatively impact others, but they will discover strategic ways to become more empathetic as a leader of their organization.
- Participants will become more effective at building positive relationships with diverse groups of people through lessons on intersectionality and effective cross-cultural communication skills.
- Participants will leave inspired, educated, and more connected as a collective community.