Kelli Lester

Introduction and Welcome

Taryell Simmons: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back to another episode of Rise Urban Nation podcast where we spotlight Black and Pan-African entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers who are transforming their industries and communities. I am your host, Taryell Simmons. Today we have an extraordinary guest, Ms. Kelli Lester. Ms. Lester is the co-founder and partner of Onyx Rising, a change management consulting firm that specializes in individual, team, and organizational behavior transformation. She is an expert in inclusive leadership, employee engagement, and fostering work environments where everyone can thrive. Kelli has been named one of Ebony's 30 Young Leaders of the Future and has over two decades of experience in leadership development, strategic consulting, and workplace culture enhancement. Today we will dive deep into what it takes to be an inclusive leader, how organizations can navigate major work shifts, and why protecting our greatest asset—our people—is key to success. Kelli, welcome to Rise Urban Nation. It is an honor to have you.

Kelli Lester: It is wonderful to be here. I am amazing, and I am not going to complain.

Taryell Simmons: Tell us, what led you to co-found Onyx Rising, and how did your career path evolve into the work that you do today?

The Genesis of Onyx Rising and Career Foundations

Kelli Lester: Onyx Rising actually started as Onyx Rising Financial Services. My aunt and I were doing a session at our church focused on financial wellness, birthed out of an ask by the pastor to conduct a financial literacy program. Within our communities, we often do not talk about money at the dinner table. It was an eye-opening experience because attendance grew each week. Onyx Rising was birthed out of helping Black and Brown people rise above their circumstances. Later, I got laid off from my day job, which propelled me into full-time entrepreneurship. All my clients came with me, which was a testament to doing what you love and doing good work. I then launched the diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting side. A goal without a plan is just a wish, so we focus on creating actionable plans to help clients rise.

Kelli Lester: I spent ten years in communications. My first job was at the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper as an administrative assistant. The general manager told me to define what I wanted to do. That changed my mindset. I ended up directing our first community affairs television show, speaking on panels, writing articles, and leading community conversations. That led to working with the mayor's office communicating with minority media, supporting minority businesses, and eventually leading community affairs at a radio station. Through recruiting young people for the Bright Star internship program, I transitioned into human resources, staffing, and corporate diversity leadership.

Transitioning to DEI and Leading with Purpose

Kelli Lester: When I realized recruiting talent was not enough if people were leaving, I fell in love with diversity, equity, and inclusion. I focused on the role of leaders in retaining talent and cultivating culture. I later led DEI for North America and globally at Sara Lee Corporation, followed by ten years of consulting. When passion and your skill set intersect, you live in your purpose. Those ten years in communications were necessary for me to be effective in the next twenty years.

Taryell Simmons: Our journeys have so many parallels. I tell young people to fall in love with the journey because the journey prepares you for what comes next.

Kelli Lester: When I transitioned from PR to DEI through a promotion, I sat in a new office feeling isolated. I asked God why He placed me there, and the answer was to be a voice for the voiceless. We find ourselves in rooms and at tables where others are absent, and our purpose is to help bring others up.

Overcoming Challenges and Navigating Changing Climates

Taryell Simmons: What has been one of the biggest challenges you faced in your career?

Kelli Lester: Being isolated when placed in positions as one of the few people of color was very challenging. Early on, colleagues doubted my qualifications. Over a year, I exceeded all goals and earned executive trust. My leader then gave me a powerful growth objective: goals that could only be achieved through collaboration with others. That taught me that success in DEI requires partnering across differences. Discomfort cannot exceed your willingness to be obedient to your craft.

Taryell Simmons: With shifts away from DEI initiatives in certain sectors today, how can leaders stay committed to inclusion?

Kelli Lester: The answer is to stick to the core. Align your efforts directly with organizational needs, whether that means workforce planning, generational diversity, continuous improvement, or serving your specific customer base. If regulations require you to rebrand or adjust terminology, change the words, but do not stop the work. Define your case for change around the mission you need to achieve.

Intentional Inclusion and Practical Leadership Traits

Taryell Simmons: What does intentional inclusion look like in practice?

Kelli Lester: It starts with self-awareness. We must understand our own lens, filters, privilege, and triggers. In addition, leaders must amplify diverse voices and master seeking, receiving, and giving feedback across differences. We must also combine emotional intelligence with cultural intelligence. In practical terms, that means understanding individual working styles, respecting communication boundaries, and providing meeting agendas in advance for introverts so everyone can contribute effectively.

Taryell Simmons: How do organizations create environments that attract and retain diverse talent?

Kelli Lester: Organizations should conduct engagement surveys and cultural assessments such as ISO standards to identify gaps. Implement organic development programs like reverse mentorships, encourage executives to speak openly on inclusion, and embed core values into recruitment and performance assessments. Highlighting internal success stories and empowering employee-led resource groups creates sustainable cultural transformation.

Key Life Lessons and Advice for Leaders

Taryell Simmons: What are the biggest career and life lessons you have learned?

Kelli Lester: My guiding philosophy is that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. When I was diagnosed with a chronic illness at twenty-seven, I resolved not to let circumstances define me. Career-wise, always maintain your own personal board of directors—trusted mentors across your evolving fields of expertise. Furthermore, proactive advocacy matters. A sponsor advocating for me by saying "Let's ask her" opened the door for my executive growth.

Taryell Simmons: For someone starting their leadership journey, what three areas should they focus on?

Kelli Lester: First, gain diverse experiential knowledge through internships, volunteering, and committee roles to discover your passions. Second, establish clear role models and intentionally immerse yourself in cultures outside your own comfort zone. Third, utilize developmental assessments like the Intercultural Development Inventory to recognize and close personal gaps.

Closing and Resources

Taryell Simmons: What resources would you like to recommend, and where can our listeners connect with you?

Kelli Lester: You can reach me and Onyx Rising at https://www.onyx2rise.com. We offer wellness retreats and leadership programming to help practitioners avoid compassion fatigue. I also recommend reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for personal alignment, and The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber for mastering business growth.

Taryell Simmons: Thank you so much for joining us, Kelli. To our listeners, remember that leadership is about impact. Stay intentional, stay inclusive, and keep rising.