Kyndra Joi, native of Charleston, SC and now local of New Orleans, LA is a Wellness Consultant, Cultural Bearer, Children’s Author, Social Worker, Mindfulness Facilitator, Certified Herbalist, Emcee, Recording Artist and serves as the ED for The Pathways Program.

Within the last 18 years, Kyndra has earned her Master of Social Work degree from Illinois State University, studied African culture, Psychology, and dance in Legon, Ghana, obtained her Herbal Extract Specialist certification through the Michigan Institute of

Natural Health, obtained her Ministry License through Greater St. Stephen FGBC and a certification of Mindfulness through School of Positive Transformation.

​Kyndra has used her experiences in individual and family Community mental health to develop cultural and wellness curriculums/ workshops to assist with the betterment of the total man. With a focus on communities of color, Kyndra aids participants in identifying mental barriers, learn the importance of forgiveness and facilitates through implementation holistic approaches through mindfulness and meditation to assist with the increase of positive mental health.

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Kelly Lockwood Primus, was appointed Chief Executive Officer in December of 2020 after successfully transitioning the merger of Leading Women into Leading NOW’s stable of brands. In her role as CEO, Kelly oversees strategy, research development and client relationship management to help Leading NOW’s clients reach their global diversity goals. Prior to this appointment, Kelly was CEO & President for Leading Women, and was with the organization since 2013.

Before joining Leading Women, Kelly was a member of the executive team for WFF, a national non-profit women’s leadership organization. As Vice President for Marketing & Communications, Kelly was instrumental in returning the organization to prominence in the foodservice industry as the authority for women’s leadership development, and drove participation in the organization’s live and virtual events to “sell-out” status. Before working in leadership development organizations, Kelly was a member of the executive team at Primo Water, a publicly held CPG company, in the role of Vice President, Marketing & Communications. Recruited pre-IPO, Kelly was challenged with articulating the brand promise, creating the brand communication strategy and instituting integrated marketing campaigns to drive retailer and consumer brand preference. Within less than a year, the organization went public, had acquired multiple new retail partners including Walmart, and the company’s products were featured in leading trade publications as a product category to watch. While a resident in North Carolina, Kelly was a mentor to students at the Wake Forest University Graduate Women in Business Program, a panelist at their Women in Leadership Conference and a judge at the Wake Forest University Schools of Business Annual Marketing Summit MBA Case Competition. Before joining Primo, Kelly was charged with developing The Goodwin Group’s global business and marketing strategy to expand the integrated marketing agency’s revenue opportunities within the pharmaceutical and medical association industries when she took on the role of Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. Utilizing research to identify a unique market opportunity, Kelly reconstructed the organization’s service offerings resulting in new customer acquisitions and a revenue increase of 100%. From 2000 to 2006 Kelly held marketing & communication roles of increasing responsibility at the $700M privately-held consumer products company, The Holmes Group, Inc. (acquired by Jarden Corporation) culminating in the role of Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Lighting Division Business Unit. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Kelly also participated in Executive Leadership Programs at Boston College and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

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As the Regional Director of Inclusion of Employee Experience at Ochsner Health, I have been leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive and strategic framework to support the employee experience efforts across the organization. With over 17 years of military and protective services experience and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Master of Science (MS) in Health Care Administration, I bring a unique perspective and skill set to this role.

My mission is to foster a culture of respect, inclusion, and empowerment for all employees, patients, and communities that Ochsner Health serves. I oversee the design and delivery of various Employee Experience programs and initiatives, such as mentorship, recruitment, retention, training, and outreach, and ensure they are aligned with the organization's vision, values, and goals. I also engage with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, managers, staff, and community partners, to promote and advocate for best practices, policies, and outcomes. Additionally, I leverage data and metrics to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of programs and initiatives, and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

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Renada W. Deschamp is a respected leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Health Equity, with over 16 years of experience in healthcare-focused Human Resources leadership specializing in organizational and leadership development and all Talent Management processes. Formerly the Senior Vice President of Health Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Woman’s Hospital, she is known for connecting organizational strategy and culture to achieve tangible outcomes, fostering environments where inclusivity drives excellence. 

As a health equity strategist, she guides healthcare organizations in using data to inform decisions that result in impactful change. Through collaboration, she designs solutions that address health and healthcare disparities and serve communities with intention and purpose. Her strategic initiatives have earned recognition, including the 2024 GBRSHRM Excellence in Diversity Award won under her leadership by Woman’s Hospital. Renada’s consultancy, FD Paige Consultants, specializes in equipping executives and their organizations as a whole with the tools needed to create equitable workplaces, increase engagement, and develop leadership to achieve measurable

success. Celebrated as a dynamic speaker and thought leader, she transforms complex DEI concepts into actionable strategies that produce positive results. In healthcare, she focuses on the entire continuum, from organizational culture to innovation to health equity. Her contributions have been acknowledged by Modern Healthcare Magazine as a Top Diversity Leader in the Healthcare Industry to Watch and Women We Admire, who named her among the nation’s

“Top 50 Women Chief Diversity Officers in both 2024 and 2025” Renada’s philosophy centers on empathy, emotional intelligence, and the human experience as the foundation of all her work. She extends her impact through board service with the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge and the Go Red for Women Executive Cabinet and is a current member of the Leadership Louisiana Class of 2025, The Rotary Club of Greater Baton Rouge and served as a member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards Health Transition committee, impacting equity beyond the workplace. She holds degrees from Southern University in Political Science and Public Administration as well as certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and the University of South Florida. Renada is a Certified Diversity Executive by the Institute for Diversity Certification. Her expertise has empowered organizations like Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Woman’s Hospital to align equity goals for employees, patients and communities with organizational strategy.

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