Leadership workshops tailored for BIPOC learners

I facilitate learning and development workshops to increase your team’s leadership capacity without compromising their lived experiences.

Traditional leadership training often takes a one-size-fits-all approach and focuses on status quo leadership norms. The challenge with this is that leadership norms are rooted in Eurocentric, white, patriarchal, cis-heteronormative and colonial expectations that ignore the diverse and intersectional identities of BIPOC leaders.

As a trauma-informed facilitator, I partner with conferences, ERGs, affinity groups, DEI teams to design BIPOC leadership training programs and workshops that address the unique challenges and experiences of BIPOC individuals in leadership roles. These workshops offer practical leadership skills, culturally responsive leadership tools, tailored support and development opportunities to help BIPOC folks lead with more intention and less self-doubt.

Most importantly, the workshops discuss the societal, institutional and individual barriers that BIPOC leaders face and practical approaches to move forward. Participants are offered a space that doesn't require explanatory commas. Where people resonate not just with their words but what they’ve lived through and there's a shared knowing that their hyphenated identity is a gift - not a flaw.

For teams looking to strengthen team dynamics, I facilitate group Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Assessments and tailored workshops to build emotional awareness and enhance collaboration.

Workshops I’ve delivered recently:

  • Embodying Allyship: CivicAction DiverseCity Fellows program

  • Practicing Radical Self-care: Hope Air

  • Navigating Uncertainty and Ambiguity: Empower’em mentoring program for women of colour

  • Having Courageous Conversations: Pan Asian Employee Resource Group at a Silicon Valley tech company

  • Exploring Personal Growth and Leadership: National organization supporting young innovators in Canada

  • Transitioning into the Canadian Workforce with Intention: Newcomer Employment Entrepreneurship Skills Hub program with Scadding Court Community Centre

While I specialize in leadership development workshops for BIPOC leaders, all leadership training can be customized for a non-BIPOC audience.

BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL

Embody the leader you want to be.

Without dimming your identity, impact, and integrity.

Client Testimonial

Yasmina Elzagheid, MBA Graduate | Learning & Operations | Communications, Marketing & Digital Experience

“I had the opportunity to attend one of Adrianne’s workshops through the Empower’em program, focused on navigating ambiguity and uncertainty.

Adrianne has a real talent for creating safe, welcoming spaces where participants feel comfortable sharing their lived experiences in a judgment-free environment. Her storytelling and communication skills made the workshop incredibly engaging and allowed me to stay fully present and connected to the conversation.

The workshop felt especially fitting for where I am currently in my own career journey, as I re-enter the job market. Adrianne explored common responses to uncertainty, practical tools for navigating those responses, grounding techniques, and gentle reminders around focusing on what we can control. She also highlighted the importance of community when navigating periods of uncertainty, as well as recognizing and interrupting stress responses.

What stood out to me most was Adrianne’s ability to combine knowledge with genuine empathy and care. She is incredibly generous with her time, knowledge, and network, and creates an environment where people feel supported rather than simply instructed.

If you have the opportunity to attend one of Adrianne’s workshops, consider yourself lucky. She is a thoughtful, engaging, and incredibly generous facilitator, and I would wholeheartedly recommend her.”

What other clients are saying

  • "Having worked in activism for 20+ years, advocating for social justice and human rights within the Labour Movement and community, the BIPOC Leadership Training provided our team a safe and engaging space to pause, reflect on the work we do, and appreciate our individual and shared lived experiences as people of colour. We were able to take what we learned from the training and apply it in both the workplace and our personal lives, regardless of being in many different points in life. Adrianne is able to connect with everyone by actively listening and sharing from her own personal experiences. She provides a kind outlook to how we can all become better leaders in whatever we do, wherever we are. Overall, the experience was thought-provoking and provided elements of healing."

    Faduma Mohamed, Executive Director, Labour Community Services

  • “Adrianne delivered an engaging and insightful workshop on "Transitioning into the Canadian Workforce with Intention" for newcomer job seekers and entrepreneurs. Drawing from both her lived experience and professional expertise, she helped participants better understand and navigate Canadian workplace culture in a way that felt practical, relatable, and empowering. Her session successfully demystified many of the unwritten expectations of the Canadian workforce while providing actionable strategies, valuable resources, and concrete supports that participants could immediately apply to their career journeys. What stood out most was her empathetic approach, which created a welcoming space for honest discussion and reflection. Participants left with greater confidence, clarity, and a stronger understanding of how to approach their professional goals in Canada.”

    Hani Ali, Scadding Court Community Centre

  • "I loved the facilitator and the topic was really relevant and helpful to my current life situation. I loved the interaction, loved the tangible solutions and takeaways that I will use in my daily life!"

    Navigating Ambiguous and Uncertain Times Workshop Participant (Empower’em Mentoring Program for Women of Colour)

  • "As a DiverseCity Fellow for CivicAction’s 2023/2024 cohort, I learned from Adrianne through her “Embodying Allyship as Leader” session. Adrianne challenged my understanding of allyship and made me consider how my values drive my actions as an Ally and a Leader. One particular instance that stands out to me is when I asked Adrianne how I would know if the values I hold dear to me are authentically mine, or if the values I have are because of the society and experiences I’ve grown up with. Adrianne’s expertise, knowledge, and similar lived experience as a Canadian-Asian made the conversation more tangible and relatable to my own experience. She encouraged me to reflect, and think about whether the values were causing me tension, or guiding me toward my ideal form of leadership. As a civic leader looking to grow and create change in my community, it’s powerful to have supporters and champions like Adrianne to guide the way and challenge me on what I know, leading me to grow into the leader I want to be in my community."

    Bianca Mae Go, Embodying Allyship as Leaders Workshop Participant (CivicAction DiverseCity Fellows Program)

  • “I thought the Radical Self-Care workshop was really engaging. It brought forward important conversations we don’t often make space for.”

    Radical Self-Care Workshop Participant, Hope Air

  • “I really enjoyed the session. I understand better how to show up as a leader knowing that emotions and fear is part of the process but doesn't have to hinder me from helping others navigate through changes.”

    Change Leadership Workshop Participant (Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Pro Virtual National Conference)

  • “Adrianne was fantastic. Great facilitator and activity.”

    Authentic Leadership Workshop Participant (SASE Pro Women’s Leadership Conference)

Who do I work with?

Organizations that want to offer inclusive leadership training and programming around:

  • Practicing anti-oppressive leadership

  • Navigating ambiguous and uncertain times

  • Values-aligned leadership

  • Having courageous conversations

  • Burnout and radical self-care

While I specialize in leadership development workshops for BIPOC leaders, all leadership training can be customized for a non-BIPOC audience.

Interested in training and/or speaking opportunities? Book a complimentary consultation to see how I can help!

BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL