The Art & Science of Culture and Inclusion™
A signature cohort program for culture and inclusion leaders who want to move beyond theory and drive measurable, sustainable change inside their organizations.
APPLY TODAYWhy This Program Matters
Inclusion efforts often fail because they’re treated as one-off initiatives instead of long-term strategies. Practitioners and Culture champions are left without the tools, support, and confidence to influence leaders and transform culture. This program bridges the gap between intention and implementation.
A Shifting Landscape
A letter from Cecilia
When I first launched this program, DEI was gaining momentum. In January 2020, a popular headline read:
“Chief Diversity Officers: The hottest & toughest job in business.”
…and, just a few short years later, we’ve witnessed political rollbacks, legislative attacks, and organizations quietly stepping away from the commitments they once proclaimed as values aligned.
What was once seen as progressive is now labeled divisive. What was urgent is now considered “optional.” And too many DEI, HR leaders and champions for equity are left navigating this new terrain with little support, dwindling resources, and unclear expectations.
I’ve lived this shift in real time. I’ve had to evolve -fast- to remain effective. To stay bold. To stay sane.
And I know I’m not alone.
When I accepted my first DEI role nearly 20 years ago, I didn’t realize that I was stepping into a lifelong calling. I had no roadmap, no mentor, and no one to call when things got hard. I had to build resilience from scratch and design strategies in rooms where people didn’t always understand (or welcome) what I was trying to do.
That’s why I created The Art & Science of Culture and Inclusion™. Not just as a training, but as a strategic learning community for people like us, leaders navigating culture, politics, identity, and performance all at once.
Whether you're officially in a DEI or HR role or the unofficial culture keeper on your team, this course is for those who refuse to give up. It’s for leaders who know this work still matters even if the language has changed, the pressure has intensified, and the support has dwindled.
This isn’t just about frameworks and metrics.
It’s about courage. Strategy. Influence.
It’s about learning how to lead when people are divided and still bring them together.
I’ve spent the last two decades helping organizations transform. But more than that, I’ve helped people stay whole while doing this work. This program is my way of passing that on.
If you're carrying the weight of equity work and wondering how to keep going, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
The Art and Science of Culture and Inclusion™: Leading with Courage in a Divided World is where we gather, learn, build tools—and reclaim the power and purpose of this work.Â
Join me. Let’s do it together.
Cecilia Stanton Adams
Who Is This Program For?
If you’ve ever thought, “How do I speak the truth and still keep my job?”, this is where you come to find the answers.
This isn’t just for DEI officers.
It’s for:
- Managers who feel caught in the crosshairs and want tools that actually work
- Culture and people leaders tasked with advancing inclusion across their organizations.
- HR and L&D leaders who care about culture but are being told to “tone it down”.
- ERG and DEI Council members trying to do something meaningful—not just performative.
- Change agents with no formal title but a front-row seat to the harm.
- Organizations that want to embed inclusion into strategy, not just training.
- Executives who want to stay committed without becoming the next headline.
This Program is Designed To:
Bring Confidence in Practice:
Translate inclusion principles into actionable strategies.
Provide Peer Learning & Community:
Collaborate with fellow HR & Culture leaders facing similar challenges.
Gain Practical Tools:
Gain frameworks, assessments, and resources you can use immediately.
Lead With Sustainable Impact:
Lead inclusion as an integrated business strategy, not an initiative.
What We Cover In The Program
Program Details
- Date: August 14, 2025 - September 18, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (CST)
- Duration: Meet for six (6) Thursdays
- Format:
- Live virtual sessions via Zoom
- Access to course platform for replays, worksheets, and bonus tools
- High-touch cohort experience with small class sizeÂ
What You'll Get In The Program
How It Works
Submit Application
Fill out a brief application to help us get to know you and your interest in the program.
Cohort Meetings For Six Weeks - Foundations & Applied Practice
Explore the theory and science behind People-First Culture™ and participate in workshops, case studies, and real-world applications.
Peer Exchange, Coaching, & Certification
Share insights, build community, and receive guidance directly from Cecilia during weekly cohort meetings. Receive your certification upon completion.Â
Meet Cecilia, Your Instructor
Cecilia Stanton Adams is a nationally recognized DEI strategist, executive coach, and leadership development expert. As the CEO of Stanton Adams Consulting and creator of the People-First Culture™ framework, Cecilia has helped organizations across industries design cultures where people thrive — and business follows. She brings deep expertise in organizational strategy and human-centered leadership to every engagement.
When you work with Stanton Adams Consulting, you’re not just getting a program — you’re working directly with Cecilia to design the future of your workplace.
Jess J
Jess's amazing testimonial
Jess J
Jess's amazing testimonial
Jess J
Jess's amazing testimonial
"The Art and Science of DEI™: Leading with Courage in a Divided World is where we gather, learn, build tools — and reclaim the power and purpose of this work."
Cecilia Stanton Adams - CEO, The Diversity InstituteÂ
Apply To Become a DEI Gamechanger
Now accepting applications for Fall 2025 Program
Meet for six (6) Thursdays,
August 14, 2025 - September 18, 2025
(via Zoom)
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (CST)​
Registration is open until August 10th or all seats are filled
Space is limited to 12 participants
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Payment Options Below
When completing your application, designate your payment preference.
Pay In Full
$2,499
No money down to complete the application.
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Pay in (3) Installments
$833
No money down to complete the application
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Submit a PO #s from your organization if they are covering tuition.
$2,499
No money down to complete the application
When you receive a letter of acceptance, you will have 7 days to set up your payment method. If you are accepted and unable to attend at this time you may defer your acceptance for up to a year.
Have any questions about this program?
Please email me at:Â [email protected]
APPLY TODAYReady to lead with Confidence, but not sure where to start?
Book a call with us today, and let's explore your leadership journey together.
Book A Discovery Call With Cecilia