Why cultural competence should be the new D.E.I. | Kimberley Barker | TEDxYpsilanti
A sense of belonging and valued contribution, is the bedrock of any thriving environment, whether it's a team, a company, or a community. But lately, we’ve seen a shift. Governments and corporations, for various reasons, are pulling back on these initiatives. Some argue they’ve become divisive; others struggle to see their tangible impact.
Prof. Barker shares that the fundamental need for inclusive and respectful environments hasn't vanished. In fact, in our increasingly interconnected and complex world, it’s more critical than ever. She proposes that It’s time to move beyond the acronym and embrace a more holistic and universally applicable framework called: Cultural Competence. Dr. Kimberley Barker is a global thinker, educator, and author with a passion
for helping people and organizations thrive through cultural competence.
She holds a Ph.D. in Organization Development, an M.B.A., and is a certified
cultural management coach with the renowned Fons Trompenaars’ network.
As a faculty member at Eastern Michigan University, she teaches a wide array
of business and leadership courses while continuing to speak internationally
on change, communication, and diversity.
Kimberley’s work centers on equipping professionals to lead with authenticity
and navigate complex cultural landscapes with care and clarity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 8:58Uma história que vem da alma | A-yá Kukamíria | TEDxAmazôniaA pajé A-yá Kukamíria abre o TEDxAmazônia 2024, em Manaus, com um ritual tradicional. Ela, então, compartilha com a audiência um texto poético, de coração para coração, falando sobre as dores de seu povo. É um clamor sobre a história e os sofrimentos enfrentados pelos povos originários do Brasil. Pajé, curandeira, parteira, benzedeira, raizeira e psicanalista, militante pela causa indígena e ativista na luta pela floresta Amazônica, sendo também embaixadora dos rios da Amazônia. Mulher indígena da tríplice fronteira, atualmente mora em Manaus, tendo como missão de vida reviver a medicina tradicional brasileira (medicina indígena), através dos rituais, remédios naturais e tratamentos ancestrais. Acredita no desenvolvimento de tratamentos para atualidade com base nos antigos ensinamentos, utiliza também a música, a dança e os instrumentos da ancestralidade para isso. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 8:55Beyond AI: Nurturing Future Innovators | Reiko Nakauchi | TEDxKatanoAt 24, she left Japan for the U.S., and for the past 17 years in Silicon Valley she has watched thousands of children grow. She believes that in the age of AI, what children truly need is not the ability to compete with machines, but the human strengths AI cannot replicate: rich creativity, deep empathy, and the courage to act on ideas. AI can provide answers, but only humans can ask the questions that truly matter. By nurturing curiosity, honoring emotions, and supporting bold attempts, she helps children see AI not as a rival, but as a partner—empowering them to bring their visions to life and lead with heart. Reiko Nakauchi is an educator, speaker, and author of “The World’s Best Parenting – Silicon Valley Method.” Her journey as an innovator began by questioning the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional education in her native Japan, leading her to create a new model in the United States. She is the founder of bilingual schools in Silicon Valley, USA and Tsukuba, Japan. Her unique "Sora Method" blends the best of Western pedagogical approaches with the Japanese cultural emphasis on harmony and teamwork. Through this, she fosters children’s creativity, emotional intelligence, and a global mindset—qualities vital in the age of AI. Her work explores how education must evolve in response to technological acceleration, with a deep commitment to nurturing the timeless human capacities of empathy, imagination, and purpose. Through her platform ravissante.world, Reiko curates transformative global learning programs for entrepreneurs and conscious leaders, integrating cultural intelligence, intuitive leadership, and spiritual alignment. She is also a trilingual mother of three, and a lifelong advocate for soulful innovation and East-West integration in leadership and education. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
