Our Work
All aspects of our work include these four elements:
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Our imperative is creating a context in which all employees, especially those who are marginalized, can realize their full potential. We believe this is the only way organizations can reap the full benefits of their diverse staff.
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We know leadership is key to sustainable DEI efforts. We challenge leaders to shift from mostly reactive initiatives in response to a complaint, crisis, or new externally mandated policy, to bold and proactive initiatives that bring about meaningful and permanent change.
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All that we do is informed by research across disciplines and the experience of the marginalized in workplaces. We do not shy away from necessary - and sometimes uncomfortable - conversations.
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We believe that establishing key performance indicators and measuring progress against them is vital to the success of DEI strategies. Intentional evaluation determines progress and course corrections.
Our Goals
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Diversity - recruiting and retaining a diverse team reflective of the communities we live in and serve
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Inclusion - welcoming, valuing, and supporting full engagement at work
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Equity - leveling the playing field in the workplace
Our Commitment to Results
Driven by real human impact, we monitor progress daily, putting our egos on hold to scrutinize our work with objectivity and scientific rigor, course correcting each step of the way.
The Team
Our team reflects a diverse staff with experiences in multiple disciplines. Our team works together helping organizations realize a more equitable, inclusive, and just workplace.
Dr. Kalkidan Gossaye
CEO and Founder
Dr. Kalkidan Gossaye, DBA (she/her/hers), the CEO and founder of Kalformativ, specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion issues within the workplace. Kalkidan has 15 years of experience in program, financial, strategy and operations management. Prior to starting Kalformativ, she served as a Senior Vice President at Alteristic, an international non-profit dedicated to the prevention of gender-based violence and other forms of harassment. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Growth and Stewardship at Teach for America and as Chief Development Officer at Washington National Cathedral where she oversaw the development and management of multimillion dollar operating and capital budgets. Kalkidan holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree, a Master’s in Political Science, and a dual Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Political Science from Indiana University. She also received a Certificate of Diversity and Inclusion Management from Cornell University. In 2018, Kalkidan’s passion for racial and economic justice led her to pursue her doctoral degree at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business where she conducted research and authored a dissertation examining the effect of leadership values on diversity management strategy in large business in the United States.
Dorothy Edwards, PH.D.
Senior Advisor
Dorothy Edwards, PH.D. (she/her/hers), a Senior Advisor, specializes in primary prevention of interpersonal violence and workplace harassment. Her work has focused on program development and she provides training and consultation on topics including capacity building, program implementation, strategic planning, and community mobilization. Her work has been the focus of multiple studies that show statistically significant reductions in interpersonal violence. In a career that has spanned over 25 years, she has held multiple positions in program management, teaching in higher education, and in counseling. She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas Woman’s University.
DJ Edwards
Director of Digital Content
DJ Edwards (she/her/hers) is the Director of Digital Content at Kalformativ where she primarily focuses on digital communications and production. Previously DJ was the photo editor at Crosscut, a non-profit news organization in Seattle, where she oversaw daily photo department operations and managed visual projects. She began her career as a visual journalist for the USA Today Network in Florida covering international and national news, along with long-form documentary journalism. She grew up mostly in the Southeast, with most of her life spent in Kentucky. She has a BA in photojournalism from Western Kentucky University.