Kelly Chapman is a speaker, author, artist, activist, former corporate executive, and entrepreneur. Currently, she runs a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting business. As a DEI practitioner, she has extensive experience helping small and large businesses align their goals with the intentional demonstration of a culture that values the brilliance of difference. Whether it’s talent or brand strategies, Kelly works with business leaders who are ready for courageous conversations and bold decisions that transform their culture into a safe place to work, grow, and impact both the community and the bottom line.
Previously, Kelly was Senior Vice President for The RLJ Companies, leading a Diversity Technology project with BET Founder Bob Johnson. She led Diversity Talent Acquisition and Marketing at Microsoft Corporation. Under Kelly’s leadership and collaboration with business partners and human resources executives, Microsoft’s youatmicrosoft.com won the coveted global “Webby” for Best Employment Website, and the function won the ERE award for Best Diversity Recruiting Program.
Training, Certifications, and Honors
Chapman has training and certifications in Situational Leadership, Micro Inequities, Behavioral Interviewing, AIRS Certified Diversity Recruiting, and more. She was a featured speaker or panelist at many conferences including the ERE Recruiting Conference, Black Enterprise Women of Power, Essence Festival, Odyssey Women’s Network Business Retreat, The National Minority Supplier Development Council, and others. She is an Endowment Fund Sponsor and a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association and has served as a Coach at the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. Finally, she is a former member of the SHRM Diversity Task Force. Chapmans’ honors include:
- She is a graduate of the 2003 class of Cleveland Bridge Builders
- an honoree of Kaleidoscope Magazine and Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 40 under 40
- Diversity MBA Magazine’s Top 100 under 50 Corporate Executive and Emerging Leaders
- Uptown Professional Magazine’s 100 Top Executives in America
- Who’s Who in Black Cleveland
- Northeastern Ohio’s Most Influential People
- The Network Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business, and
- The Phenomenal Women Foundation
As a guest on “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” her segment garnered the highest number of calls in the show’s history. Her speaking requests include best practices in diversity recruiting and marketing, entrepreneurship to certified MBE’s, philanthropy, and corporate career success. Her passion is helping Women and BIPOC achieve by following their purpose.
Leaving a Legacy
Featured in Money Magazine, Chapman is an avid philanthropist. She created the Wilma A. Chapman Scholarship Fund at the Cleveland Foundation in honor of her mother. In 2012, she founded the Kelly Chapman Ministries Mobile Pantry feeding low-income families in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. To date over 300,000 meals have been served. In her spare time, she consults with non-profits to help them realize their full potential.
Finally, Chapman is also a mac’n’cheese maven in the Food Industry. Recently, CNBC invited her to appear on “Restaurant Startup” as her “mac-O-licious” brand was featured on the TV show. The Reality Show Investor and Restaurateur Joe Bastianich labeled it “killer mac’n’cheese”
Hailed as “Brilliant” by Co-Panelist Hill Harper, those who know her call Chapman, “Amazing,“ “Inspiring,” and “Authentic.”
Chapman holds a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University and an M.B.A from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Her daughter Natalie is an Actress and Graduate of Ohio University.