Biography of Amy S. Tolbert

She is principal of Effecting Creative Change in Organizations (ECCO International), which specializes in increasing individuals’ productivity and organizations’ profitability through e-learning, technology and facilitated learning.

Addressing diversity and multicultural issues, cross-cultural training, and managing a diverse workforce, Dr. Tolbert has researched multicultural competencies needed for today’s global organization. She has authored a book, Reversing the Ostrich Approach to Diversity: Pulling your head out of the sand, a timely answer to the renewed urgency for actionable diversity information. The tool presents five, simple concepts for diversity awareness, which focuses on 5 key concepts. The Ostrich book also has been translated and distributed in Saudi Arabia and China. In other arenas, she is known as the co-author of The Princess Principle: Women helping women discover their royal spirit. She has also co-authored and presented the Discovering Diversity Profile, a popular self-assessment tool, at the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) International Conference and the Inscape (formerly Carlson Learning) Publishing International Conference. She has presented nationally and internationally at the International Human Resource Development Organization Conference; the International Management Development Organization; the “Quality Workforce,” a national conference co-sponsored by ASTD, and has been invited to present at the 2005 National Speakers Association (NSA) National Convention on diversity. She developed the Integrating Diversity Profile, which assesses key areas for organizations to focus their time and energies regarding diversity efforts. As a result, she is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) with NSA as well. The CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of experience and skill. Fewer than 10 percent of the speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold this professional designation.

As a best-selling contributing author with HRD Press (50 Activities for Achieving Excellent Customer Service) and published by the American Management Association (AMACOM) in early 2005, Dr. Tolbert consults and trains nationally in the areas of multicultural competency development, increasing influence in organizations, managing within a diverse workforce, motivation and leadership skills. Her diverse client list includes 3M, Best Buy, Mayo Clinic, Andersen Windows, Lawson Software, BlackBox, United Way, Ford Motor Company, Becton-Dickinson and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

As a Fellow, Carlson Executive Development Center, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Dr. Tolbert earned her doctorate in Human Resource Development, focusing on international/cross-cultural and diversity education/training, from the University of Minnesota. She continues to support her alma mater by serving as adjunct faculty for several annual programs at the Carlson Executive Development Center and presents in the PT-MBA and Executive-MBA programs.