Kathleen Johnson does not have a traditional Human Resources background in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She is an artist first and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2021 was the first time she had worked in corporate since the mid-90s, having pursued a career in film and television after staying home with her 5 children for 10 years. Today, she is the founder and CEO of Kreativ Culture Strategies and a Senior Advisor of DEI in healthcare. Thinking Outside the Boardroom: Creative Solutions in DEI and Anti-racism is her latest book, published in 2025. She is an instructor at Simon Fraser University, contributes monthly to Brainz Magazine, has a podcast called The Kreactivators, is one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch for 2025, and has worked on major feature films and with artists like Ben Affleck. Kathleen is also a stand-up comedian and uses it as a technique in creative engagement on social justice. She has a degree from Carleton University in Sociology and Anthropology, a DEI certificate from Cornell University, and a makeup arts diploma from CMU College of Makeup Art and Design.

In this episode, Mark Sephton talks with Kathleen Johnson, DEI expert, creative strategist, and author of Thinking Outside the Boardroom, about how creativity and courage can drive meaningful cultural change. Together, they explore the power of reflection, play, and purpose in building more inclusive and human-centered workplaces.

In this episode, we discover the following: 

1. The Art of Building a Plane While Flying It.
2. From Resistance to Readiness.
3. The Inner Work of Leadership.
4. Play, Creativity, and Connection in DEI.
5. Turning Awareness into Action.

With podcast host Mark Sephton

Hope you'll enjoy the episode!

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