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Fatimah Gilliam

Author of “Race Rules,” Lawyer, Negotiator, Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Leadership Consultant, Racism Ethicist, Truth Sayer

Author of “Race Rules,” Lawyer, Negotiator, Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Leadership Consultant, Racism Ethicist, Truth Sayer

Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
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Fatimah Gilliam Biography

Fatimah Gilliam is an author, lawyer, consultant, public speaker, and entrepreneur. Her career combines expertise in the law, diversity, human capital, leadership, stakeholder engagement, and negotiations – helping organizations gain influence and strategic leverage, build coalitions and consensus, navigate polarizing issues and rebuild trust after crises, drive business and organizational goals, and advance workforce optimization.

She began her career as a corporate attorney on Wall Street at Cleary Gottlieb where she negotiated billion-dollar deals. At Citigroup, she leveraged her human capital and leadership acumen to oversee campus diversity recruiting for all Citi’s U.S. businesses. As the Head of Finance and Fundraising for North America for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning United Nations World Food Programme, she utilized her management and operational skills to oversee corporate partnerships and expand WFP’s presence and strategic relationships – including negotiating partnerships with The Hunger Games film franchise and rapper 50 Cent that resulted in providing over 20 million meals in Africa.

Since founding The Azara Group, which provides diversity and inclusion, leadership development, negotiation, and strategy consulting services, she has served as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 corporations, senior executives leading billion-dollar businesses, and industry thought leaders. Her firm has advised clients on strategic initiatives, business objectives, talent management, and diversity strategies. This also includes guiding clients in connection with complex negotiations to gain influence, and recovering after workplace “incidents” or crises to repair key stakeholder relationships and team breakdown. Fatimah’s firm helps people and organizations “get what they want” and strategically play chess to reach their goals.

Her groundbreaking book "Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You" is her patriotic contribution to America’s ongoing dialogue on race. Race Rules is a creative, innovative approach to explaining race in an eye-catching format – distilling complex material into an easily digestible, accessible reference guide for a broad audience with much-needed how-to advice. This book seeks to drive equity and behavioral change while helping people navigate polarizing issues and develop positive relationships across race. It’s received positive reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, along with endorsement from notable dignitaries, scholars, and academics like Darren Walker (President of the Ford Foundation), Angela Davis, Rabbi Sharon Brous, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, former Mayor Naheed Nenshi (Calgary, Canada), actor Harry Lennix, racial-wealth-gap scholar William Darity of Duke University, and voting rights and federal Indian law scholar Patty Ferguson-Bohnee at Arizona State University’s law school.

As a thought leader, Fatimah has written articles and been interviewed: Television (e.g., CNBC’s Power Lunch; CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip; ABC 7’s Here and Now with Sandra Bookman); News outlets (e.g., Forbes; Fast Company; Newsweek; Business Insider; Yahoo! Finance; The Hill; HuffPo; CNBC); and Industry publications (e.g., Society for Human Resource Management or SHRM).

Fatimah graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with a Master in Public Policy (concentrating in International Trade and Finance; Conflict Resolution and Negotiation), Columbia Law School (participating in the Mediation Clinic; earning the Parker School Certificate of Achievement in International and Comparative Law), and Wellesley College (cum laude in Economics and French). She is a board member of the Columbia Law School Association, a board member and the Careers Committee Co-Chair of the New York Wellesley Alumnae Club, and a member of the Black Alumnae of Harvard Equity Initiative (BAHEI) and Co-Chair of BAHEI’s DEI Playbook Committee.

Fatimah has lived in Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe, been to over 40 countries, and speaks French. She has also completed three marathons and three Olympic-distance triathlons to support cancer research, volunteers as an attorney for Election Protection, and successfully lobbied for changes to the U.S. tax code.

Fatimah is a Black woman whose family has been in the United States for nearly 400 years and fought in every American war, including the American Revolution and Civil War. She’s also lived through military conflict, having been evacuated by the U.S. military when it invaded Grenada in the Caribbean.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/02/2024.

Fatimah Gilliam Speaking Topics

  • Bedrock Race Rule – 3-Step Process to Making Equitable Decisions & Navigating Difficult Issues for 21st Century Leaders

    This interactive leadership session explores the skills and tools in the innovative and groundbreaking book Race Rules – What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You that provides tips and tools on cross-racial interactions in people’s personal and professional lives. This book introduces a straightforward, universal 3-step framework to unlearn racism, drive equity, and challenge misconceptions.

    This decision-making framework is helpful for anyone who values effective leadership, management, and interpersonal skills. It can help keep organizations relevant and sustainable in a diversifying global society and workplace with leaders, employees, clients, and customers from a broad range of backgrounds.

    This Bedrock Race Rule is a real-time 3-step process for when navigating uncertainty in how to proceed, interact, or behave across race. It helps people when facing difficulty with hot topics, polarizing issues, uncomfortable conversations, or struggling with what to think, say, or do.

    The interactive discussion addresses:

    • How to use the Bedrock Race Rule to drive equity, improve business and leadership decisions, and strengthen personal and professional relationships.
    • Successfully navigating polarizing issues.
    • Effective allyship and leadership for modern-day leaderships and professionals.
    • Real-time decision making to align impact with intent.

  • Democracy, Voting Rights & Jim Crow 2.0

    This session covers how to protect voting rights in America and how recent trends to restrict voting are jeopardizing America’s democracy. This discussion includes a historical overview of voting rights in the U.S. and action items to support access to voting in our communities.

    Fatimah has spent many years volunteering as an attorney for Election Protection, which is a non-partisan organization that works to secure people’s voting rights and access to the polls.

    The interactive discussion addresses:

    • History of voting rights and voting restrictions.
    • Similarities with Jim Crow era voting restrictions and present-day contemporary Jim Crow 2.0.
    • The link between voting and creating the necessary framework and marketplace where companies can thrive.
    • Action steps to protect democracy and voting rights.

  • How to Become a Master Negotiator

    Much in life can be learned from understanding common mistakes made when negotiating. When striving to become a better negotiator, it is helpful to explore negotiation tools and tips in light of what typically derails negotiations. This talk highlights how to avoid pitfalls when seeking to gain leverage and influence to advance career or business objectives, which is critical in becoming a master negotiator.

    This session’s interactive features offer an opportunity for participants to explore the broader career and business implications of their negotiation styles when engaging with colleagues and clients, and when aiming to become more effective leaders in business.

    The interactive discussion addresses:

    • Common mistakes made during negotiations.
    • Lessons learned and pitfalls to avoid during negotiations.
    • Key factors to becoming a better negotiator.
    • Useful tools for more successful negotiations.

  • White Welfare – Leveraging History to Drive Equity & Transition Beyond Allyship

    This discussion introduces the term “White Welfare” that’s detailed in the innovative and groundbreaking book Race Rules – What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You. White Welfare is broader than white privilege and involves the historical, policy, and societal framework at the heart of race-based wealth and opportunity gaps and America’s caste system.

    The interactive discussion addresses:

    • The power and importance of understanding history in shaping systemic outcomes and today’s organizations.
    • Contemporary links between present-day life outcomes and access to opportunity.
    • Leveraging learning from the past to create a better future of leaders skilled at driving equity and meaningful impact.
    • Why White Welfare matters in business and the workplace.
    • Shifting beyond “my family didn’t own slaves,” “I just got here,” and “let’s move on from the past” mindsets, which block progress.
    • Solutions to dismantle White Welfare, disrupt racism, and drive effective allyship at home and work.

  • Effective Allyship & Unlearning Racism

    We need to reposition how we think of “allyship,” what effective allyship looks like, and how taking action is a critical factor in driving equity. This session explores how to effectively disrupt racism, strengthen your ability to form genuine relationships across race, and proactively live your values beyond recognizing that racism is bad – including tangible tools and action steps to drive equity.

    The interactive discussion addresses:

    • Data on allyship.
    • Allyship vs. disrupting racism.
    • The importance of taking action.
    • Aligning impact with intent.
    • Action items to reinforce effective allyship and drive equity.

  • Controlling Careers through Influencing Skills

    Want to have more influence over your career? Begin to explore what you can do to better drive your future and career. Ignite your thinking and start considering how to expand your influencing skills. This session is a launching pad to begin thinking about the types of factors that impact your ability to influence others and gain leverage throughout your career.

    The interactive discussion addresses:

    • The importance of influencing skills (a subtle, “soft touch” form of negotiation).
    • How influencing skills can advance careers over time and help people emerge as leaders and influencers during one’s careers.
    • Helpful tools to increase and assess influencing power.
    • How this skill set is critical to actively take control of overall professional success.

Fatimah Gilliam Videos

  • Book Reading and Overview of “Race Rules” by Fatimah Gilliam
    What if there were a set of rules to educate people against race-based social faux pas that damage relationships, perpetuate racist stereotypes, and...
  • Change the Narrative | “Race Rules,” Negotiating, Allyship & Houston Riot
    In conversation with Fatimah Gilliam about her book "Race Rules," the Houston Riot of 1917’s impact on her family and the military, effective...
  • Do Airbnb and Tech Discriminate?
    Fatimah Gilliam, CEO of The Azara Group, discusses her own experience with Airbnb and the tech industry’s diversity and discrimination issues on...

Fatimah Gilliam Books

  • Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You
    Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You

Speaker Lists Featuring Fatimah Gilliam

FAQs on booking Fatimah Gilliam

  • How do I book Fatimah Gilliam to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Fatimah Gilliam for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Fatimah Gilliam, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Fatimah Gilliam or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Fatimah Gilliam

    Speaking fees for Fatimah Gilliam, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Fatimah Gilliam are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Fatimah Gilliam, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Fatimah Gilliam speak about?

    Fatimah Gilliam is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Black Heritage, Business, Civil Rights, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Government, Innovation, Leadership, Literary, Negotiation, Thought Leadership, Virtual.
  • Where does Fatimah Gilliam travel from?

    Fatimah Gilliam generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Fatimah Gilliam’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Fatimah Gilliam for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Fatimah Gilliam for your next private or corporate function.
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Fatimah Gilliam is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Bedrock Race Rule – 3-Step Process to Making Equitable Decisions & Navigating Difficult Issues for 21st Century Leaders, Democracy, Voting Rights & Jim Crow 2.0, How to Become a Master Negotiator, White Welfare – Leveraging History to Drive Equity & Transition Beyond Allyship, Effective Allyship & Unlearning Racism and Controlling Careers through Influencing Skills. The estimated speaking fee range to book Fatimah Gilliam for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Fatimah Gilliam generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ijeoma Oluo, Dr. Kimberly Harden, Deanna Singh, Christine Michel Carter and Carin Taylor. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Fatimah Gilliam for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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