What is it?
The JEDI CEO Action Initiative: Strengths-Based Leading in Changing Times is a 4-month (1 session per month) facilitated program for CEOs, Founders, and Presidents of natural products companies wanting to operationalize JEDI change in their organizations while sharing practices and learning from their executive peers.
The CEO Action Initiative is designed to provide support, guidance, and education for CEOs, Founders, and Presidents of organizations committed to implementing and sustaining justice, equity, diversity & inclusion practices within their company. This vessel creates a leadership 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 experience, we will grapple with a theme that ties real-world, current positions/challenges to historical and systemic causes and outlines real actions that can be employed to move the needle and realize sustainable, equitable, foundational change. In addition to cohort participants, we will also bring in experts in DEI; CEOs who’ve done the work and can track their success metrics; and specific ideas for risk reduction paired with practical case studies on implementing structural change. Our CEO Action Initiative brings fully-activated minds together to learn from one another in a safe space as they grow their commitment to centering J.E.D.I and, in the process, further ensure future organizational success.

What you’ll learn
Cross company learning with 10-15 activated leaders that meet virtually - 1x/month for 4 - 2 hour sessions.
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
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

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

JAMES D. WHITE
Former Jamba Juice CEO Founding Cohort Leader Author of Anti-Racist Leadership
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
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:
- Friday, September 16, 10-12pm PT
- Friday, October 28, 10-12pm PT
- Friday, November 18 , 10-12pm PT
- Friday, December 16, 10-12pm PT
Format:
This is a 4-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.