LAURA E. LOMAX   
Inclusion Coach

Laura brings more than 35 years of leadership experience, including 18 years as CEO of a healthcare management firm primarily focused on actualizing my father’s vision: stellar physicians providing quality medical care in state-of-the-art multispecialty centers throughout ‘underserved’ communities in Philadelphia. As a practicing physician and entrepreneur, his mission was to give access to the best health and customer care to those deemed the least. This vision of excellence expanded to include staffing and then operating health care systems in police departments, sheriff departments, prisons, and jails in 11 states and 60 facilities across the U.S. Even in these complex and challenging work spaces, Inclusion was always a core value; the key to keeping employees engaged, motivated, and willing to lead and serve in a highly structured yet unpredictable environment.

My father gave me the learning container (company), determination, and the drive to develop acumen and skills to truly make a difference in lives and communities. However, it is my mother who read my siblings and me stories that stretched our imaginations and taught us history. She orchestrated daily activities for six children, such as going to the Zoo, swim clubs, museums, and the occasional protest. The food was of the highest quality, often from her garden, made with care and purpose. Of utmost value, she was gentle yet vigilant about providing the spiritual armor to thrive in such demanding work environments. My mother made me acknowledge the importance of the earth, good mental and physical health, and a strong, connection to the Creator/Creatrix. Even as a child, I marveled at the many books and esoteric subjects my mother delved deeply into and then followed on a similar path of self-discovery and enlightenment. While my father encouraged ambition and big aspirations, my mother gave us the resilience to achieve those dreams.

Since 2015, Laura has focused on innovative cultural competency-building programs for individuals and teams in education (K-20), banking, health care, law enforcement, social services, and hospitality.

Tapping into all of her experience and education, Laura uses one-to-one and team coaching to build learners’ mindsets, heart sets, and handsets, as keys to sustaining inclusive workplaces. The ultimate goal is to enrich co-worker relationships, conversations, and team performance to achieve organizational goals. Using a developmental model that is grounded in theory and best practices, Laura meets ‘students’ where they are as part of her learner-centered training framework.

​Laura has a BA in Anthropology, a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, and has certifications as an Intercultural Practitioner, a Qualified Intercultural Development Inventory Administrator, a Professional Coach, a Cultural Detective, and Training the Trainer in Emotional Intelligence in Diversity. Laura is also an author of a best-selling cookbook, Grandma’s Kitchen Goes Green. with plant-based versions of traditional soul food recipes.

A Philadelphia-area resident, Laura has traveled through West Africa, India, Ireland, and Israel, where she lived from 2008-2009.

The Inclusion Card deck is a culmination of personal and professional experiences, learned knowledge, channeled creativity, accumulated wisdom, and artistic expression to continue to guide learners to develop their best and highest selves.