Michael Welp, Ph.D.
Founding Partner
Before helping found White Men as Full Diversity Partners, Michael was the creator of EqualVoice, an organization development consulting firm known for building collaborative work cultures and for its transformative approach to conflict resolution.
An adjunct faculty member at Capella University and a recipient of the Minnesota Organization Development Practitioner-of-the-Year Award, Michael is known for his authentic, trust-building style. His objective is to develop leadership in everyone, and to create long-term cultural change in organizations by using diversity as a source of transformation and unification.
In addition to working with a broad range of industries throughout the U.S., he has facilitated interracial team building for South African corporations. He has written and lectured extensively about white men's role in diversity.
Michael is a member of the NTL Institute, which is dedicated to helping organizations accelerate individual, team and organization effectiveness. “I am inspired,” he says, “by the fact that when white men have the opportunity to understand diversity dynamics, they often reveal great courage and action toward creating true equality in the workplace.”
Personal/Professional Philosophy: I believe authenticity and courage in relationships are the primary means for creating effective partnerships. These partnerships form the building blocks for creating fully democratic and productive organizations.
A Favorite Book: Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen.
Lessons Learned: Most white men believe fervently in the idea of equality, but it is usually an equality based on treating everyone the same – where sameness means a hidden white male standard. Given an opportunity to gain a complex understanding of current diversity dynamics, white men often reveal courage and action toward creating true equality in the workplace.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
