KPMG
Challenge
As a global professional services organization, KPMG employs Black professionals working within highly complex, high performance, and multicultural environments. While diversity and inclusion initiatives were in place, Black employees were seeking deeper, more practical support — specifically around navigating workplace dynamics, leadership expectations, and the unique pressures of thriving within a multinational organization.
Employee leaders within KPMG identified a need for a speaker and facilitator who could address these realities with credibility, care, and cultural intelligence — while also offering concrete strategies that went beyond awareness into sustainable professional growth.
The Approach
Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc. partnered with KPMG to deliver a keynote experience designed to meet Black professionals where they were — acknowledging lived experiences while focusing on resilience, leadership capacity, and practical pathways for success.
The engagement was intentionally structured to:
- Create a psychologically safe space for honest reflection and dialogue
- Address the intersection of identity, workplace culture, and performance expectations
- Provide practical tools for navigating bias, conflict, and professional pressure
- Reframe resilience as a strategic leadership competency rather than a personal burden
Rather than positioning the session as a one time event, Interpersonal Wellness Services emphasized next steps, helping participants translate insight into action within their roles and career paths.
The Outcome
The session was well received by participants and organizational stakeholders alike. Black professionals reported feeling seen, supported, and better equipped to navigate complex workplace dynamics with confidence and clarity.
Key outcomes included:
- Increased confidence among participants in advocating for themselves professionally
- Practical strategies for managing workplace pressure, conflict, and expectations
- A stronger sense of agency and direction for thriving within a global organization
- Clear recommendations for continued development and organizational support
By combining cultural insight with evidence based resilience strategies, Interpersonal Wellness Services helped shift the conversation from simply “surviving” workplace challenges to thriving as high performing professionals.
Why This Matters
This partnership demonstrated the value of moving beyond surface level diversity programming toward resilience informed leadership support that honors lived experience while strengthening organizational capacity.
For multinational organizations like KPMG, this approach supports:
- Sustainable inclusion and retention
- Stronger leadership pipelines
- Reduced disengagement and burnout
- A workplace culture where diverse talent can perform at their best
