Photo of Kelsi Ju writing the words "DEI" and "Impact over Intention" on a white board. She is wearing a red collared jacquard jacket with dark red cat eye glasses and a long black ponytail. She is looking over her shoulder with a welcoming smile while holding a purple dry erase marker.
"Your lived experiences are your undeniable truths"
Kelsi Ju M.A. she/her (hear name), SUSB Founder/Owner
Kelsi Ju M.A. she/her (hear name), SUSB Founder/Owner
The DEI Leadership Need
Step Up Step Back was born from a vision to create the most impactful DEI opportunities for those who can exponentially magnify equitable and inclusive practices with their positions in leadership.
Drawing from my professional and personal experience as a person of minority, Step Up Step Back combines established leadership practices with DEI research. Each session embodies authenticity, adaptability, and empowerment to take your career advancement to the next level as a leader.
Prior to the pandemic I forecasted a future increase in a demand for DEI services. During the pandemic events such as Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, and Trans rights movements brought the forecast to life in American society and global events.
How Do We Meet The DEI Leadership Need
I am the 7th person in the nation to have earned a Mater's of Diversity & Inclusion in Leadership Studies from the University of Kansas in the emerging DEI profession and academic field. I utilize traditional leadership theories, DEI case studies, and qualitative/quantitative research methods to create the DEI foundation for Step Up Step Back's executive leadership coaching and group trainings.
Step Up Step Back was born from a vision to create the most impactful DEI opportunities for those who can exponentially magnify equitable and inclusive practices with their positions in leadership.
Drawing from my professional and personal experience as a person of minority, Step Up Step Back combines established leadership practices with DEI research. Each session embodies authenticity, adaptability, and empowerment to take your career advancement to the next level as a leader.
Prior to the pandemic I forecasted a future increase in a demand for DEI services. During the pandemic events such as Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, and Trans rights movements brought the forecast to life in American society and global events.
How Do We Meet The DEI Leadership Need
I am the 7th person in the nation to have earned a Mater's of Diversity & Inclusion in Leadership Studies from the University of Kansas in the emerging DEI profession and academic field. I utilize traditional leadership theories, DEI case studies, and qualitative/quantitative research methods to create the DEI foundation for Step Up Step Back's executive leadership coaching and group trainings.
Why Is There a DEI Leadership Need?
I grew up bouncing between San Francisco and Honolulu as a Queer Asian Pacific Islander American Woman. Throughout my life, I struggled to find professional role models who reflected my intersectional identities; multi-ethnic Chinese and Uchinanchu (Indigenous Okinawan), Spanish speaking, on the autism spectrum, a rainbow family member, a survivor, and a time limited veteran.
In the absence of accurate representation, I decided to be the change I wanted to see in the world.
In 2014 I completed Peace Corps service where I experienced the worst and the best of humanity. I was assigned as an environmental health extensionist in Panama. I lived and worked with the indigenous Ngäbe people in extreme hardship communities with no car access, electricity, nor potable water. Together the indigenous community leaders and I developed culturally sensitive Gender And Diversity programs for; Latine government employees, illiterate adults, women artisan cooperatives, and indigenous youth. I began as a young professional employing adaptive leadership techniques with nearly 500 indigenous and Latine Panamanians, but during the most challenging projects I forged my transformative DEI leadership skills.
While serving multiple tours of duty as a Park Ranger with the National Park Service I worked to systematically break down gender, age, ethnic, and language barriers by integrating DEI work into environmental education program. As the education manager at the Crissy Field Center I lead a 50 person team of tri-agency volunteers, interns, staff, and public school teachers through DEI trainings. Together we overhauled traditional environmental education programs to reflect the needs of the diverse student population (600 students, 60 educators), increased park accessibility for minority communities, and assisted with the development of a nation wide professional network for Environmental Educators of Color. As a county park interpreter I organized and led culturally appropriate diversity parks programs for English and Spanish speaking family with 30-800 attendees. As a government employee, I found my stride as a leader employing Authentic Leadership and Adaptive Leadership when engaging with diverse non-profit organizations, large corporate, and international government agencies.
Step Up Step Back is the culmination of all my personal and professional DEI experiences. My DEI coaching process engages a spectrum of DEI and leadership tools to meet the unique needs of each of our clients. Situational Leadership, Responsible Leadership, and Humility Leadership are the foundation for my DEI focused approach to achieve work cultures that embody authentic belonging and thriving communities. Restorative and transformational justice are the pillars of my DEI approach to address power inequity in pursuit of a healthy work environment for long term sustainability and increased accessibility.
I give thanks to my elders and ancestors who came before me for their knowledge, dreams, and sacrifices. To the best of my knowledge I occupy the stolen land of the Awaswas, Amah, Mutsun, and Uypi. As a colonizer I seek to tread lightly on sacred land with reverence, respect, and humility. Please donate and support the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.
I grew up bouncing between San Francisco and Honolulu as a Queer Asian Pacific Islander American Woman. Throughout my life, I struggled to find professional role models who reflected my intersectional identities; multi-ethnic Chinese and Uchinanchu (Indigenous Okinawan), Spanish speaking, on the autism spectrum, a rainbow family member, a survivor, and a time limited veteran.
In the absence of accurate representation, I decided to be the change I wanted to see in the world.
In 2014 I completed Peace Corps service where I experienced the worst and the best of humanity. I was assigned as an environmental health extensionist in Panama. I lived and worked with the indigenous Ngäbe people in extreme hardship communities with no car access, electricity, nor potable water. Together the indigenous community leaders and I developed culturally sensitive Gender And Diversity programs for; Latine government employees, illiterate adults, women artisan cooperatives, and indigenous youth. I began as a young professional employing adaptive leadership techniques with nearly 500 indigenous and Latine Panamanians, but during the most challenging projects I forged my transformative DEI leadership skills.
While serving multiple tours of duty as a Park Ranger with the National Park Service I worked to systematically break down gender, age, ethnic, and language barriers by integrating DEI work into environmental education program. As the education manager at the Crissy Field Center I lead a 50 person team of tri-agency volunteers, interns, staff, and public school teachers through DEI trainings. Together we overhauled traditional environmental education programs to reflect the needs of the diverse student population (600 students, 60 educators), increased park accessibility for minority communities, and assisted with the development of a nation wide professional network for Environmental Educators of Color. As a county park interpreter I organized and led culturally appropriate diversity parks programs for English and Spanish speaking family with 30-800 attendees. As a government employee, I found my stride as a leader employing Authentic Leadership and Adaptive Leadership when engaging with diverse non-profit organizations, large corporate, and international government agencies.
Step Up Step Back is the culmination of all my personal and professional DEI experiences. My DEI coaching process engages a spectrum of DEI and leadership tools to meet the unique needs of each of our clients. Situational Leadership, Responsible Leadership, and Humility Leadership are the foundation for my DEI focused approach to achieve work cultures that embody authentic belonging and thriving communities. Restorative and transformational justice are the pillars of my DEI approach to address power inequity in pursuit of a healthy work environment for long term sustainability and increased accessibility.
I give thanks to my elders and ancestors who came before me for their knowledge, dreams, and sacrifices. To the best of my knowledge I occupy the stolen land of the Awaswas, Amah, Mutsun, and Uypi. As a colonizer I seek to tread lightly on sacred land with reverence, respect, and humility. Please donate and support the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.
Learn about Step Up Step Back's leadership influenced DEI coaching Services.
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