Amy S. Tolbert, Ph.D., CSP

Dr. Amy S. Tolbert, Ph.D., CSP, is a speaker, author, and consultant specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leadership development, and global business communication. Tolbert is the founder and principal of Energizing Cultural Change in Organizations International, where she focuses on building inclusive cultures through leadership training, inclusive practices, and cross-cultural communication skills. Her work spans industries, with clients including 3M, Best Buy, the FBI, Ford Motor Company, IBM, Mayo Clinic, Thomson Reuters, and United Way.

Tolbert holds a doctorate in human resource development from the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis on international and cross-cultural diversity education and training. She serves on several boards and as a fellow at the Carlson School of Management, where she is also a distinguished faculty member for Carlson Executive Education. Her consulting practice has a global reach, with associates in Spain, China, Venezuela, Canada, and Ecuador. Tolbert’s expertise includes experiential learning in DEI initiatives, leadership competency development, and managing to style.

Tolbert is the author of "Reversing the Ostrich Approach to Diversity: Pulling Your Head Out of the Sand," which provides practical guidance for organizations seeking to advance diversity and inclusion. She is the creator of "Open Mind, Open World," a video-based global communications training program, and co-founder of Spectra Diversity, which offers the Spectra Diversity Inclusion Assessment to measure organizational and individual progress in DEI.

Tolbert holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association, a credential held by fewer than 10 percent of professional speakers worldwide. She has served as national vice-chair for the Professional Expertise Group on Diversity with the National Speakers Association, president of NSA-MN, and lead learning strategist for the Institute for Lawful, Safe, and Effective Policing. Tolbert’s recognitions include the Mark LeBlanc Award for excellence in the speaking industry, induction into the MN Speakers Hall of Fame, the Best of St. Paul Award in Human Resource Consulting Services, and the Inscape Publishing Ruby Award. Her experience and published work position Tolbert as a leading voice in diversity, equity, and inclusion, leadership development, and global workplace communication.