Ralinda Watts

About Ralinda Watts

Ralinda Watts is a cultural commentator, speaker, consultant, and storyteller, shaping conversations at the intersection of identity, culture, sports, leadership, and belonging. A contributor to PopSugar and a quoted expert in The Los Angeles Times, with additional bylines in CBS Media, Medium, and Yahoo! Lifestyle.A native of Los Angeles, Ralinda is a proven thought leader and strategist, bridging education, media, and community impact. She has designed PS–12 identity and social justice curriculum, created innovative programs such as Sharing Our Stories, Social Justice Symposia, and Intersections of Identity, and co-founded DEI Consortium/LA, a networking group for educators and professionals.Ralinda earned her M.Ed. from Columbia University, where her research focused on leadership, the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups, and the Black@ social media movement.She is the founder of RalindaSpeaks, a consulting platform and brand that produces content, workshops, and the RalindaSpeaks podcast—inviting conversation on what matters most: authenticity.

Experience

1. Contributor

   Popsugar

   Aug 2020 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

Education

• California State University, Northridge

  Bachelor's degree, Business-Marketing, Pan-African Studies

• Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  Master's degree, Educational Leadership

• UCLA

  Post Baccalaureate Research Studies, World Arts and Culture, African Studies

• Teachers College, Columbia University

  Master of Education - Ed.M, Klingenstein, Leadership Academy