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Bernard Coleman          

Vice President of People at Swing Education, HR/People Leader; Former Head of Employee Engagement at Gusto & Former Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Uber

Bernard Coleman is the VP, People at Swing Education, where he leads the People function. In this role, he works to enable best-in-class employee engagement spanning performance management, career development, succession planning, retention, and recruiting and onboarding processes to create operational stability. As a thought leader and influencer of impactful HR practices, Coleman supports business objectives and collaborates with functional leaders to identify future skill/talent needs, as well as acts as a thought partner to the CEO/COO on how to advance Swing Education’s mission, vision, and strategy. In doing so, Coleman helps contribute to an employer brand and culture that attracts top talent and retains employees so they can do the best work of their careers.

Before Swing Education, Coleman served as the Head of Employee Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer at Gusto, where he led the Employee Engagement team, which encompassed diversity, equity and inclusion, employee relations, and people integrity/governance/compliance functions. In that role, Coleman drove the systemic and holistic diversity and belonging programs throughout Gusto and his efforts spanned the boundaries of Gusto working in close collaboration with people program areas like human resources, talent, recruitment, analytics, marketing, communications, and branding in an effort to enhance inclusion and diversity throughout Gusto.

Prior to Gusto, Coleman led DEIB efforts at Uber to embed diversity, belonging, equity, and inclusion at scale across a company of over 28k employees globally. Coleman was instrumental in helping evolve Uber’s culture following a spate of unearthed toxic cultural issues. Coleman was able to successfully accomplish several landmark initiatives, including but not limited to Uber’s first two diversity reports, the first D&I scorecard, the establishment of the Diversity Advisory Council, employee resource growth from 2K to over 7K members, and the development of Uber’s first comprehensive D&I workshop called Why Diversity Matters.

Before Uber, Coleman directed the diversity and HR initiatives at the Hillary Clinton for America campaign as the first ever in United States history, Chief Diversity and Human Resources Officer for any presidential campaign for either political party. Coleman developed the campaign’s institutional planning in support of the mission and goals, as well as assessing the strategic indicators and standards that ensure responsibility and accountability for achieving diversity and cultural competence within the D&I matrix.

Coleman previously served at the Democratic National Committee for six years as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer and the Director of Human Resources, helping modernize the DNC’s HR operations – moving from transactional to tactical. As part of the modernization, Coleman helped to promote greater pay equity, diversification of staff, the creation of safer spaces, and greater cultural competence across the organization, culminating in fuller partner relationships and enhanced multiculturalism. Coleman has also held senior-level roles at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Government of the District of Columbia.

In addition, Coleman has written for Forbes, Inc., Catalyst, and the Society for Human Resource Management, and his insights have appeared in media outlets such as Nasdaq Government Clearinghouse, Time Magazine, TechCrunch, and the Huffington Post. Coleman holds an M.B.A. from Trinity University, a B.A. in psychology from Hampton University, a Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management certification from Georgetown University, is a graduate of the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and is an alumna of the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

Named as one Untapped’s Top DEIB Leaders of 2022 "Walk the Walk" Diversity Equity & Inclusion Leadership Award, 2021 Insiders Top 33 Innovators in HR, 2019 The DiversityFIRST™ Leadership Awardee, a 2018 American Council of Young Political Leaders Fellow, a 2018 Black Enterprise Top Executive in Corporate Diversity, recognized as one of the Top 50 Multicultural Leaders in Technology in 2017 by the National Diversity Council, Coleman was also honored as one of Hampton University’s Inaugural Forty Under 40 honorees, as well as The Network Journal’s 2017 “40 Under Forty” honoree.

Coleman is a SHRM Diversity & Inclusion Expertise Panelist and also serves on the Reproductive Freedom for All board and as a Board Advisor to X0PA AI and advisor to Language & Culture Worldwide.

Speech Topics


Employee Advocacy and Well-being

Delve into the realm of employee advocacy and well-being with Bernard Coleman, a proponent of holistic employee experiences. Explore how HR can go beyond traditional roles to champion employee well-being, mental health, and work-life balance. Learn about successful initiatives that prioritize the whole employee, fostering a culture of care and support within the organization.

Strategic Human Resources Leadership

Join Bernard Coleman as he delves into the strategic landscape of Human Resources leadership. Drawing from his roles at Uber and Gusto, Coleman provides a comprehensive overview of aligning HR initiatives with organizational goals. Explore how strategic HR practices contribute to business success, talent acquisition, and employee retention. Learn how to navigate the evolving HR landscape with innovative and forward-thinking approaches.

Employee Experience

Join Bernard Coleman in an exploration of strategies to elevate the overall employee experience. Delve into the creation of workplaces that transcend traditional expectations, offering environments where employees not only work but thrive personally and professionally. Benefit from Coleman's insights gained at Uber and Gusto as he shares practical approaches to enhance employee satisfaction, well-being, and professional growth. Discover the key elements that contribute to a positive employee experience and learn how to cultivate a workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Embark on a journey through the complexities of DEI initiatives with Bernard Coleman, a leader who has championed diversity at Uber, Gusto, and Hillary for America. Gain a deep understanding of the impact of DEI on organizational success and learn how to foster a truly inclusive environment. Navigate the nuances of implementing effective DEI strategies, drawing on Coleman's experiences in driving change and creating workplaces that embrace diversity. Explore tangible steps to promote equity, inclusion, belonging, and lasting cultural transformation.

Employee Engagement

Dive into the intricacies of fostering high employee engagement with a presentation that goes beyond theory. Uncover the secrets to creating a workplace where employees are not just motivated but truly invested. Drawing from Bernard Coleman's experiences at Uber, Gusto, and SHRM, gain practical insights and real-world examples that demystify the art of engagement. Learn actionable strategies to inspire commitment, boost morale, and foster a workplace culture that values and energizes its team members.

Mastering Hybrid Engagement

Gain practical insights into optimizing collaboration between in-office and remote teams. Explore communication strategies, leadership practices, and team dynamics that Coleman has successfully employed to ensure seamless and effective hybrid engagement. Benefit from his expertise in creating cohesive work cultures that transcend physical boundaries.

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The Future of Work is Now

Delve into forward-thinking strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of work, adapting to technological shifts, and preparing for the future workplace. You’ll gain a strategic perspective on the integration of technology, the impact of global trends, and the dynamics shaping the modern workplace. Benefit from Coleman's expertise in adapting to change, fostering innovation, and preparing organizations for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Leading with Empathy and Inclusion

Discover how he champions diversity and inclusion, and learn actionable strategies to lead with empathy. Gain insights into creating environments that value every individual, drawing on Coleman's insights from shaping inclusive workplaces in dynamic and high-profile settings.

Cultivating Culture in the Digital Era

Delve into practical approaches for translating cultural values into virtual spaces, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting a cohesive identity. Benefit from Coleman's firsthand experience in nurturing workplace cultures that drive success and innovation.

The New Rules of Remote Leadership

Explore innovative strategies to redefine leadership in the remote landscape, informed by real-world examples from Coleman’s tenure at leading organizations. Learn how to leverage technology, communication tools, and empathetic leadership to inspire and guide remote teams toward success.

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