Richard Friend, Ph.D., has committed his life’s work to building a world that works by giving voice to the power of inclusion.  Richard partners with individuals and organizations to develop leadership and managerial potential in order to transform their workplaces and communities into places where all people can thrive and succeed.  He has worked in almost every business sector throughout the United States, Canada and Central America, including education, health care, engineering, manufacturing, technology, communications, utilities, professional services, government and not for profit.

As a member of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education for nearly fifteen years, Dr. Friend conducted research on educational leadership and consulted with organizations on how the power of inclusion can be harnessed to create innovation and reach shared goals.  Richard currently serves on the faculty for Carnegie Mellon University’s H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management’s Chief Information Officer’s Institute; and has worked with military and civilian employees at Wright Patterson Air Force Base for more than fifteen years.  Through Carnegie Mellon’s Executive Education and SES Programs, he has taught staff from governmental agencies such as NASA, Environmental Protection Agency, FEMA, Secret Service, FBI, CIA, Social Security Administration and the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Transportation and Treasury.

In addition to co-hosting and co-producing the weekly on-line talk radio show Diversity Matters®, Richard has authored many articles and chapters as well as co-authored the 7-tape video series Diversity Dilemmas...© and the groundbreaking School Diversity Inventory.