Leaders step up when they are needed and they know when to
step back because they have empowered their team.
Step Up with equitable and inclusive leadership to empower diverse authentic teams.
Step Back from inequitable and exclusionary leadership that maintains an inefficient status quo.
Step Up Step back is a Queer neurodivergent indigenous woman of global majority (woman of color) owned business that offers customized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) coaching and trainings. Step Up Step Back's consultation work is a proactive approach to professional leadership development rather than a reactive management response to exclusionary organizational practices. With Step Up Step Back's DEI coaching and training, you are investing in the development of your leadership skills. Productivity will increase and employee attrition rates lower through your DEI vision. Expand your leadership knowledge and tools with DEI to become professionally competitive and highly relevant. You will create a work place culture where your team will feel a true sense of belonging. |
Photo of Kelsi Ju the owner and founder of Step Up Step Back. She is wearing a black and gold Chinese brocade jacket with long black ponytail. Her arms are crossed below her chest while she smiles confidently. The background is a tree trunk, a potted plant, and a cream building.
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Together we can create an equitable and inclusive environment
for a world of increasingly diverse professionals.
for a world of increasingly diverse professionals.
What People Are Saying About Step Up Step Back
As someone who grew up in a diversified Hawai’i, I thought I understood what diversity and equity meant. Talking about race, diversity and equity is hard. So when I want to talk about a difficult subject such as race, equity, gender issues, sexual orientation, white privilege, etc., I go to Kelsi.
Kelsi helps me to discuss and navigate difficult topics in the form of DEI dialogues. These dialogues enable me to empathetically see both sides of very emotional and traumatic topics with zero judgment. For example, I had a 2- hour session with her regarding ciswomen and transwomen validation. I came out of that dialogue knowing that it’s okay to have different perspectives/feelings on difficult subjects while still treating people with respect. The dialogues I have had and will continue to have are open, frank, and emotional. They are essential to my growth to become a better advocate/ally for people of color and reverse previous ignorance. I currently work as an epidemiologist for a nonprofit company that works in support of Native American Tribal Nation partners. Everyday is a new opportunity to learn about Indian Country and my place as a white employee to assist in their projects. To be honest, I don’t think I could have worked in this environment as effectively as I feel I do now without having had my dialogues with Kelsi. I am still learning from her everyday and I owe much of my growth as a person and as an ally (still working on it!) from her. If you want to work (and it is work!) at being a better person, a better ally to people of color, and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion into your businesses, I implore you to work with Kelsi. You won’t be disappointed. - G. Harper. MPH, MS. Staff Epidemiologist |
Kelsi is wise, patient and kind - she has never forced “best practices” on me, rather she offers suggestions when I have indicated I’d like advice because of past bad experiences/ lack of success in certain arenas (job interviews, navigating disagreement…).
Most recently, after thinking long and hard on two bits of advice given to me by Kelsi, I had one of the most productive and rewarding exchanges with a top decision maker at an organization I hoped to form a relationship with. I was able to make the impression I wanted to make- passionate, knowledgeable, and probably most importantly- attentive listener. (I have a strong personality and can often get into my own head so much I don’t give others a chance to share a lot or lead the conversation- this has proven to be to my own detriment at times). My sessions with Kelsi over the past year have had a cumulative effect which in the end has given me a sense of calm knowing I have the skills now I didn’t have before. I can do the practical steps to prepare for interactions that make my success more likely. Kelsi has helped me be more intentional in the way I interact with others. Kelsi helps me still be fully my authentic self in interactions, but now in a bit of a “polished” way that actually allows me into spaces/ conversations and decision making arenas I very much want to be a part of. For the first time in a long time, I feel more optimistic about my future prospects as I start out in my new career. Kelsi is now my go to “ace in the hole”. I am better and more effective because of my sessions with her. Thank you Kelsi. — Rachelle H., M.A., Freelance Writer |
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