Beth Ruffin

About Beth Ruffin

I\'m a strategic leader, TEDx speaker, and author committed to one powerful idea: we all flourish when we create cultures where everyone belongs.As Chief Engagement Officer at Richland Library, I have the privilege of leading engagement strategy that connects our community to resources, programs, and possibilities that transform lives. This role is the perfect intersection of my 25+ years of workplace leadership experience, my passion for equity and inclusion, and my belief that true engagement happens when people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.For six years, I led The Everyday Inclusionist LLC, partnering with organizations across sectors to build more inclusive, human-centered cultures. That work taught me that transformation happens through both systems change and individual awakening - and now I bring both lenses to this executive leadership role.My work is grounded in faith and informed by experience. I hold an MBA from Southern Wesleyan University, executive education from Harvard Kennedy School, and decades of learning alongside teams navigating change, growth, and transformation. I\'ve spoken on stages from TEDx views) to corporate conferences, authored two books, and host the \"You Belong Here with Beth Ruffin\" podcast.I served as Board Chair of WREN (Women\'s Rights and Empowerment Network) and was part of the Emerge South Carolina 2025 cohort. I was honored to be recognized as one of 12 Black Leaders to Know in SC 2025 by the Post and Courier.I continue to accept speaking engagements on topics including inclusive leadership, workplace belonging, and the courage to create cultures where people don\'t just survive - they flourish.My guiding word for 2026 is \"flourish\"- and I\'m committed to helping individuals, teams, and communities do exactly that.

Experience

1. People & Culture Trainer and Consultant

   Powertofly

   Nov 2022 — Present

   Partner with global organizations of all sizes to build inclusive cultures through DEIB consulting and training solutions. Lead end-to-end product delivery including needs assessment, content generation, facilitation, and impact measurement. Key Responsibilities:* Design and deliver custom DEIB training programs tailored to specific client challenges and organizational contexts * Facilitate courageous conversations that enable teams to address difficult topics around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging * Provide strategic consulting to leadership teams on building and sustaining inclusive workplace cultures * Generate training content and materials from concept through delivery, ensuring relevance and practical application * Work across diverse industries and company sizes, adapting approach to meet varied organizational needs and cultural contexts Impact: Empower organizations to create meaningful cultural change through evidence-based practices, actionable strategies, and transformative learning experiences that drive sustainable inclusion.

Education

• University of Pittsburgh

  Bachelors of Arts, English Writing

  2007

• Harvard Kennedy School

  Executive Education, Strategies for Building and Leading Diverse Organizations

  2018 — 2018

• Riley Institute at Furman University

  Diversity Leaders Initiative, Diversity Leaders Initiative

  2018

• Southern Wesleyan University

  Masters of Business Administration, Business Administration and Management, General

  2011 — 2013