A Message from Hile Rutledge, OKA President and Principal Consultant

I grew up as a white boy in the American South, surrounded by Black people – in stores, classrooms, and walking down the street – yet despite their undeniable presence, they remained on the periphery of our cultural conversation. Their intellectual, political, financial, creative, and leadership contributions were frequently overlooked and taken for granted. I was never taught to pause and reflect on the Black thinkers, writers, leaders, and businesspeople who shaped both history and my daily life. Looking back now, the oversight is glaring, but it took me decades to fully recognize my own ignorance.

Black History Month helps bridge this gap in knowledge and appreciation. We honor and respect what we acknowledge, remember, and discuss. That’s why at OKA, we’re proud to celebrate this month and the opportunity it provides to honor and explore the contributions, history, and stories of our Black colleagues, elders, neighbors, and fellow citizens.

The work of Black trainers and Organizational Development thought leaders has influenced how I and my colleagues at OKA understand and approach workplace dynamics today. Their research and training inform the way we design and deliver – helping leaders and teams develop the skills to foster emotionally intelligent workplaces.

Here are a few of the teachers and colleagues I would like to acknowledge, thank, and celebrate during this Black History Month.

Michael Broom, Ph.D.

While he insisted I and everyone else call him Michael, Dr. Broom was one of the stand-out instructors in my Organization Development Master’s Degree program. Faculty at the American University as well as a Senior Associate within NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science, Michael was an important voice in my early understanding of power dynamics – how to see and diagnose them as well as how to navigate them within systems, both healthy and dysfunctional. In addition, Michael had just submitted for publication the manuscript for Power: the Infinite Game, and he was generous enough to share a personally printed copy of his manuscript to help me grapple with and apply the challenging and compelling ideas he was working to pull into the field of OD.

I was one of many hundreds of students who learned at Michael’s feet over the years. He no doubt does not remember me, but I remember him – and I find myself returning to his content and paradigm-challenging approach to OD even now – almost 30 years after his class.

Ray Linder

Ray happens to be a good friend and long-time Associate of OKA, but he is also a thought-leader in the field of Learning and Development and one of the world’s leading voices in the training and application of Type (MBTI) and Relationship Awareness Theory (SDI). Ray is the author of many books and training designs, including What Will I Do With My Money?, a powerful book that pulls together the often disconnected worlds of Type and personal finance.

When OKA produced a video series to document our approach to training Type and Temperament, I made sure that Ray’s voice, insights, and engaging approach to learning were a key part of that project. A master at the marriage of pop culture and media and their use in teaching, Ray remains a model to me about how to stay current, energetic, and curious.

Reggie Crane, Ed.D.

Before he became Dr. Crane, Reggie was a Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force, then a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, then a senior leader and internal consultant with the Air Force. In the last couple of years, he has become an ICF certified leadership coach. Now, as an entrepreneur, Dr. Crane is launching Next Level Coaching & Consulting, a new consulting firm that will bring his unique, supportive, and experienced voice into the world of leadership and team development.

At the center of Reggie’s dissertation, was his Communication Effectiveness model – a unique and actionable approach to leadership and team development. Reggie is a long-time client of OKA, and he has become a cherished and trusted friend of mine, and in my long career, I have never met anyone who better demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to make actionable the new ideas he’s learned. Dr. Crane is a role model of mine, and he is now an exciting new force in our field.

Continuing Their Legacy in Leadership Development

The work of these thinkers, teachers, and leaders is practical – shaping how relationships are nurtured and how work is done in the world. At OKA, we feel the impact and legacy of these folks in our training, leadership coaching, and organizational development programs.

As we continue our mission to develop greater self-awareness in our clients, we honor the contributions of these Black thought leaders whose insights guide us toward stronger, more inclusive leadership and better self-management.