CEO Action Initiative

What is it?

The CEO Action Initiative: Leading Equitable and Inclusive Companies is a 5-month facilitated program for CEOs, Founders, and Presidents of natural products companies wanting to operationalize JEDI change in their organizations while learning from executive peers with JEDI experience.

The CEO Action Initiative is designed to provide support, guidance, and knowledge for CEOs, Founders, and Presidents implementing justice, equity, diversity & inclusion changes within their company. We are creating a community that holds each other accountable for making and implementing commitments while providing a safe space to deal with the real emotions, pains, and mistakes that emerge when doing J.E.D.I work.

During this 5-month experience, learn from experts in DEI and CEOs who’ve done the work. They will share insights & practical case studies on implementing structural change. Learn from leaders who have studied & implemented J.E.D.I changes and hear about their challenges & successes.

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What you’ll learn

Cross company learning with 10-15 company leaders that meet virtually monthly for 2 hours.

Session 1

CENTERING THE BIG PICTURE

Introduce the circle process & philosophy. Instill shared values & share commitments or action plans

Session 2

Tools & Resources

Learn best practices on supporting and initiating holistic, scalable, lasting DEI initiatives from practitioners and CEOs. Explore tools to support J.E.D.I work.

Session 3

Roadmap & Operationalizing Change

Frameworks to operationalize plans. How to measure / KPIs. Leveraging action learning in teams

Session 4

Corporate Policy & External Accountability

Building systemic equity within and outside of your organization. How your company can influence change within the industry, markets, and society at large

Session 5

Final Sharing & Community Commitments

CEOs deliver lessons, learnings, & applications. Share refined J.E.D.I plans. CEOs make a J.E.D.I Community Commitment. Accountability

Meet Your Facilitator & Guest Speakers

JAMES D. WHITE

Former Jamba Juice CEO Founding Cohort Leader Author of Anti-Racist Leadership

GUN RUDER

Martinelli's President and CEO Founding Cohort Member

CYNTHIA BILLOPS

Cohort Facilitator, EdD VP of Membership, Operations & Belonging at OSC

BLAIR KELLISON

Traditional Medicinals CEO Founding Cohort Member

MARYANNE HOWLAND

JEDI Collaborative Co-Founder Ibis Communications Founder & CEO

What you’ll gain

A community of accountability partners and changemakers to support you in your J.E.D.I journey
An improved action plan for implementing J.E.D.I principles and strategies
Practical tools and resources to drive J.E.D.I work based on your specific company challenges
Knowhow to drive action that leads to systemic change in your company
The ability to speak and lead with authenticity and integrity on J.E.D.I within your company
Exposure to best-known practices through lived experience, case studies and industry experts

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“I personally learned how to lead with integrity and be genuinely authentic when trying to do the work, knowing that I now have resources that will hold me and my team accountable. As an early stage company with the unique opportunity to build a team from the ground up, the CEO Action Learning Initiative was necessary for me to hear the stories of other CEOs and grow with the guidance of our facilitator and former CEO of Jamba Juice, James D. White.”

Michelle Pusateri

CEO & Founder of Nana Joe’s Granola

“I have already seen progress both in how we are going to market for job searches and the dialogue around these critical topics at the senior level. The CEO Action Learning program provided a context to better understand issues and opportunities around equity and inclusion for natural food companies. The expert speakers and the facilitator, James D.White, former CEO of Jamba Juice, provided a strong framework to distill goals and track progress for Martinelli’s as we seek to prioritize DEI initiatives and implement new tools.”

Gun Ruder

CEO & President of Martinelli’s

“The guest speakers were amazing and the workshops both raised awareness and put forth actionable steps to combat racial bias in the workplace and our lives. Overall, OSC and it’s initiatives have been a remarkable champion and partner for positive change.”

Reem Hassani

Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer of Numi Tea

“The JEDI Collaborative is a fantastic organization that is making a real difference in the natural products industry. I recently participated in a four part CEO forum for the JEDI initiative. I learned so much about JEDI and how to incorporate more diversity and inclusion into my daily role as a CEO. I got to know an amazing group of like minded CEOs. My positive experience was directly related to the quality of the staff at the JEDI Collaborative. Each of my sessions were very organized and had very rich, well thought out content for me to learn. Great experience!”

Blair Kellison

CEO of Traditional Medicinals

Former Participating Brands

Enrollment Details

PREREQUISITES:

Identify as a CEO, President or Founder of a natural products company
Made a public commitment to J.E.D.I or in the development of making one
Are able to articulate your commitment or general internal plan for implementing J.E.D.I principles & practices
Have an open mind & embrace vulnerability

SESSION DATES:

February 25 10-12pm PST
March 25 10-12pm PST
April 22 10-12pm PST
May 20 10-12pm PST
June 24 10-12pm PST

Format:

This is a 5-month facilitated program that meets once a month.

Participants:

This program is for CEOs, Founders & Presidents leading natural products, food or CPG-based companies who are fully invested in making JEDI a key part of their brand & mission.

We encourage you to apply especially if you are from a marginalized background. We aim to make the circle as diverse as possible across a number of different intersections, such as race, ethnicity, sexual identity, companies, and geography.

Cost:

OSC Members: $1500

General Public: $2500

**Scholarships are available. Please request a scholarship when you submit your application.

Are you ready to take your JEDI commitment to the next level?

Apply to participate in the next class of the CEO Action Initiative by February 12th, 2022. Limited seats available.

Apply