Kimberly S. Reed
Diversity, Belonging and Culture Executive, Author and Global SpeakerReed Development Group
Skills
About
Kimberly S. Reed, CDE® is a Culture Futurist, Founder of Reed Development Group, and a trusted DEIBC (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging & Culture) executive advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. She partners with C-suite leaders and boards to embed belonging, culture, and equity into the DNA of their organizations—transforming culture from an aspiration into a measurable driver of performance, trust, and sustainable growth. From Boston to Dubai, Kimberly has stood on global stages, facilitated international summits, and led courageous, often uncomfortable conversations with one clear purpose: helping organizations move beyond performative commitments toward purposeful, accountable, and lasting change. Kimberly is a member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council, an invitation-only collective of global influencers and changemakers shaping the future of culture, leadership, and innovation. She is also affiliated with RedBoxMe, in collaboration with Cartier—an innovative platform redefining how leadership, art, philanthropy, literature, sustainability, and design intersect through culture and human connection. Recognized by Marquis Who’s Who® for her global influence and strategic leadership, Kimberly Reed is a two-time Global Influencer with DIGITALCONFEX, engaging executive audiences across Dubai, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Amsterdam. In 2025, she was named a Philadelphia Titan 100 Honoree, recognizing CEOs and C-suite executives who exemplify vision, influence, and industry-shaping excellence. A bestselling author, Kimberly wrote Optimists Always Win! — Moving from Defeat to Life’s C-Suite (Simon & Schuster/HCI Communications). One hundred percent of the book’s proceeds support cancer charities, reflecting her deep commitment to purpose-driven leadership and social impact. Kimberly is a member of the Washington Speakers Bureau (WSB)—the world’s largest talent agency for corporate and leadership events—joining a distinguished roster of global leaders, Fortune 500 executives, bestselling authors, and cultural innovators who inspire action and drive results. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, belonging, and the future of work, guiding global organizations through disruption with clarity, courage, and cultural intelligence. She helps executives make culture the engine of innovation, trust, and long-term value creation. Kimberly defines this moment as When Culture Leads: The New Leadership Revolution Reshaping 2026—a transformative era in which culture, not charisma, becomes the true source of competitive advantage. Today’s leaders are no longer just managing organizations; they are curating communities, shaping identity, and building ecosystems where people and performance thrive together. As a trusted advisor to executives and enterprises, Kimberly specializes in turning culture into a strategic asset—one that accelerates engagement, strengthens trust, enhances performance, and positions organizations to lead what’s next. Kimberly serves on several high-impact boards and advisory councils, including the Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence, Titan 100 Philadelphia, and Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development Board of Visitors. Her work is grounded in service, legacy, and leadership. She is a proud member of The Links, Incorporated, one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of accomplished African American women, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a global sisterhood of more than 325,000 members committed to service, scholarship, and impact. Kimberly has a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Public Administration from Westchester University and a Master of Education, Adult Organizational Development and Public Policy from Temple University. She also has received her certification in Global Organizational Leadership, Human Resource Management, Temple Fox School of Business and received certifications in Training and Development and Communication and Conflict from Temple University.
Kimberly S. Reed
Published content
expert panel
As work becomes more digital and distributed, leaders must be more intentional about how trust is built, sustained and felt across their teams. Hybrid and remote work have reshaped how teams communicate, collaborate and connect. But trust doesn’t automatically follow new tools or flexible schedules. Without face-to-face cues and shared physical spaces, misunderstandings can happen more frequently, and employees may hesitate to speak up or take creative risks. In this environment, psychological safety requires deliberate leadership. Building genuine trust requires a human-centered approach to communication that makes people feel heard, respected and safe to contribute fully. To that end, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share the strategies they rely on to foster trust and psychological safety, no matter where their teams are located.
expert panel
Today’s leaders are expected to be real and relatable while still projecting confidence, credibility and steadiness in public. Here's how to strike that balance. Modern audiences, especially younger generations, are drawn to leaders who show self-awareness, acknowledge uncertainty and speak candidly about challenges. At the same time, leaders are still expected to inspire trust, make decisive calls and represent their organizations with confidence. Balancing confidence and vulnerability in your internal and external communications isn’t always straightforward, though. Sharing too much can weaken your perceived authority, while sharing too little can feel disconnected or inauthentic. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share how they navigate transparency with intention while still earning credibility.
expert panel
As metrics and data dashboards multiply, today’s most effective leaders use numbers as a guide without letting it cloud human judgment or imagination. Data has become an integral part of modern business decision-making, offering clarity, accountability and measurable insight. But when numbers become the only lens through which ideas are evaluated, they can crowd out the intuition, experimentation and creative risk-taking that often lead to breakthrough innovation. The challenge for leaders is knowing when to trust the data and when to think beyond it. Here, Rolling Stone Culture Council members explain how they use their analytics to inform decisions while protecting creative freedom and human instinct.
expert panel
In an era of nonstop change and constant distraction, today's most effective leaders are redefining focus as their strategic advantage. New tools, shifting markets and endless “next big things” can quickly overwhelm even the most capable teams. While staying informed is essential, chasing every trend often leads to diluted priorities and stalled progress. For leaders, the real challenge is deciding what truly deserves attention and what can be tuned out. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share how they filter out the noise, set clear priorities and help their teams stay grounded in the work that actually moves the business forward, even amid constant disruption.
expert panel
As technology continues to reshape how we work, successful leaders are focusing on human skills that help people adapt, collaborate and thrive through constant change. While new tools, platforms and technical capabilities continue to dominate conversations about the future of work, many leaders are realizing that skills alone won’t determine who succeeds in the long run. The next decade will demand resilience in the face of uncertainty, emotional intelligence amid rapid change and a mindset that embraces learning over mastery. Beyond training teams on what to do today, leaders are being challenged to develop how people think, communicate and grow for what comes next. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share the human skills and mindsets they believe are most critical for preparing teams to navigate the years ahead with confidence and purpose.
expert panel
Authenticity isn’t a trend or tagline. It’s a long-term commitment to consistency, accountability and real human connection. In an era where consumers can spot performative messaging from a mile away, “authenticity” has become one of the most overused and misunderstood ideas in branding. Too often, companies mistake relatability for honesty or aesthetics for values, only to lose trust when their actions don’t align with their words. Here, 11 Rolling Stone Culture Council members explain what today’s brands commonly get wrong about authenticity and what it really takes to build real, lasting connections with audiences. By showing up consistently and letting your values guide you, your brand will be well on its way to being truly genuine.
Company details
Reed Development Group
Company bio
Reed Development Group is a progressive, multi-disciplinary Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) consultancy that partners with executive leadership to embed inclusion into the DNA of their organizations. Through strategic advising, leadership development, and transformative frameworks, we help global companies build cultures where belonging drives performance, trust fuels innovation, and every leader becomes a catalyst for change.