
Kimberly S. Reed, M.Ed., CDE, has developed a distinguished reputation as having one of the most distinct and influential voices on the lecture circuit, transforming the thinking of thousands. As The Corporatepreneur ™ Chief Transformational Officer of the Reed Development Group, she has developed a cutting-edge multi-disciplined Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion solutions firm accelerating the future of organizational multicultural evolution and growth through innovation, development, and advocacy. Reed’s infectious energy, lioness tone, and inspiring sincerity engage audiences on topics ranging from the innovation and evolution of diversity, equality and inclusion, personal, professional, and leadership development, entrepreneurship to teaching.
As a senior partner at the Ascendant Group, Reed specializes in executive branding and is a founding member of the Forbes Agency Council for P.R. and Advertising. She has led an award-winning team across company cultures, brand design, and PR-related work. The company has a clientele that has ranged from multibillion-dollar company CEOs and executives to fast-growth entrepreneurs. In December 2020, Kaleidoscope Diversity resulted from a strategic alliance between McConnell & Jones LLP and Reed Development Group. It was developed for companies who want to harness the power of an engaged, diverse workforce and diverse supply chain in today’s hyper-competitive global marketplace in the capabilities of one solutions provider. They created a tailored approach to innovative, high-impact virtual training and strategic sourcing initiatives, allowing their clients to address internal and external issues that hinder an organization’s full potential with its workforce and suppliers.
Reed served on several professional and not-for-profit boards as a member, executive council member, and chair. She is the Vice-Chair, Leadership Council of the American Cancer Society South Jersey/Philadelphia and a board member; Legacy of Hope provides emergency patient support to cancer patients in underserved diverse communities in the Philadelphia region. Reed is a Founding Advisory Committee Member of the University of Pennsylvania and DiverseForce Board Governance Training Program that provides leadership training for leaders of color who want to achieve greater effectiveness as organizational leaders while making a social impact as board members. She is also a member of The Links, Inc., one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of accomplished, dedicated African American women active in their communities, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated with over 300,000 members globally.
Reed has been featured on 6ABC, NBC, ShondaLand Digital, Huffington Post Business, Thrive Global (contributor), The Journal of American Management Association, Charisma Magazine, Essence Magazine, HR.com, iHeartMedia, FOX News, and Radio One, and its subsidiaries for her leadership in diversity, and advocacy for women and minorities in leadership, business and entrepreneurship, and faith. She has earned numerous awards, periodical cover features, and has been recognized repeatedly by such organizations as the National Urban League, American Express, national publications, and the City of Philadelphia for her leadership.
Reed was named one of the Minority Business Leader’s Award honorees, Philadelphia Business Journal, and was appointed to the CEO Access Network, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the 2018 Women of Excellence: Game Changer Award, South Jersey Magazine. She was inducted into the West Chester University Legacy of Leadership Class. The university honors alumni who have demonstrated service to the institution through student leadership and continue to utilize those leadership skills in their lives today. Reed also received the prestigious 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Salute to Greatness Award: Ambassador Global Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, in addition to the 2020 Game Changer: Community Service Award for Entrepreneurship, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Impact. She was one of the Top 28 Black Leaders for their impact on diversity & inclusion, Color Magazine, and honoree, the 2021 Philly Power Women.
As for education, Reed earned a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Public Administration from Westchester University. Her Masters of Education, Adult Organizational Development and Public Policy, and certifications in Training and Development and Communication and Conflict were received during her time at Temple University. She has received certifications in Global Organizational Leadership and Human Resource Management at Temple Fox School of Business.
Optimists Always Win! – Moving from Defeat to Life’s C-Suite, Reed’s highly anticipated book release on January 15, 2021 (Simon Schuster/HCI Communications) was on a bestseller list in its first week. Reed is a regular speaker and lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s LEAD Program, Howard University School of Business, Executive MBA/Education, and DEI Programs, and a top-rated speaker at leading global professional conferences.
With more than 20 years of H.R., talent acquisition, diversity, equality, and inclusion experience, Reed has successfully turned around diversity practices. Through Reed, companies have increased revenue growth and organizational brand eminence by designing, building, leading, and shaping high-performing cultures at global organizations with robust strategies and international employee development programs.