DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CONSULTING

Are you ready to choose courage over comfort?


At Upton Consulting Group (UCG), we use our expertise, lived experiences, and passion, along with research-based strategies, to help Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professionals and organizations work smarter, better perform and achieve optimal results as inclusive organizations...while staying mentally strong in the process.


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DIVERSITY, EQUITY,
AND INCLUSION CONSULTING

Are you ready to choose courage over comfort?


At Upton Consulting Group (UCG), we use our expertise, lived experiences, and passion, along with research-based strategies, to help Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professionals and organizations work smarter, better perform and achieve optimal results as inclusive organizations...while staying mentally strong in the process.


LEARN MORE
 
CLIENTS WE'VE WORKED WITH
CLIENTS WE'VE WORKED WITH

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About UCG

Making the world more just and inclusive,
one organization at a time.


Who We Are

Upton Consulting Group is an experienced and innovative team of strategists who work with DEI professionals and organizations around the globe to design and implement proven strategies that create inclusive organizations.


Our Vision

Our vision is to make the world a more just and inclusive place, one organization at a time.


Our Promise

To help DEI professionals and organizations work smarter and make a difference.


Core Values



Expertise

We promise to give the best of our professional and lived experiences.


Authenticity

We will be real and transparent.


Integrity

We will honor the truth and deliver on what we promise.


Modeling the Way

We will practice what we preach in DEI.


Passion

We will serve our clients with heart and mind.


Caring

We will support your mental health.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

Dr. Sandra Upton (she/her/hers)

As Founder and Chief DEI Strategist with Upton Consulting Group (UCG), Dr. Upton brings 25+ years of DEI and cultural intelligence expert consulting, coaching and training with businesses, educational institutions, governmental agencies and non-profits to this work. Prior to launching UCG, Dr. Upton was Vice President, Global Diversity Practice with the Cultural Intelligence Center and was responsible for providing strategic leadership and expertise on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters for hundreds of clients across the globe. She led organization’s response to the growing demand from global and Fortune 500 companies to Ivy-League universities. She is also a subject matter expert in unconscious bias training.

She is a frequent speaker and consults with numerous businesses and institutions on how to effectively integrate DEI strategies into business and educational settings. As a well-known subject matter expert, she has written numerous blogs and has been featured in several articles and podcasts. She travels frequently and has consulted with organizations, educational institutions and schools and facilitated keynotes and trainings across the US and in numerous countries around the world. such as Brazil, China, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Israel, Singapore, South Africa and several countries throughout Europe.

She and her husband Robert are the proud parents of two adult children, Alexis and Devin.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

Dr. Sandra Upton (she/her/hers)

As Founder and Chief DEI Strategist with Upton Consulting Group (UCG), Dr. Upton brings 25+ years of DEI and cultural intelligence expert consulting, coaching and training with businesses, educational institutions, governmental agencies and non-profits to this work. Prior to launching UCG, Dr. Upton was Vice President, Global Diversity Practice with the Cultural Intelligence Center and was responsible for providing strategic leadership and expertise on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters for hundreds of clients across the globe. She led organization’s response to the growing demand from global and Fortune 500 companies to Ivy-League universities. She is also a subject matter expert in unconscious bias training.

She is a frequent speaker and consults with numerous businesses and institutions on how to effectively integrate DEI strategies into business and educational settings. As a well-known subject matter expert, she has written numerous blogs and has been featured in several articles and podcasts. She travels frequently and has consulted with organizations, educational institutions and schools and facilitated keynotes and trainings across the US and in numerous countries around the world. such as Brazil, China, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Israel, Singapore, South Africa and several countries throughout Europe.

She and her husband Robert are the proud parents of two adult children, Alexis and Devin.


 

Substantive and sustainable DEI work in organizations requires more than performative allyship such as public statements and press releases.
There has to be a deeper understanding of the need for change and why your organization has a responsibility to create and lead the change. Not every employee, student, customer, suppliers, etc. will get it or agree with your decision to take this on. You’ll need to be okay with that. And to lead effectively, two prerequisites are required for this work
— courage and confidence.


– Dr. Sandra Upton
 
 

Substantive and sustainable DEI work in organizations requires more than performative allyship such as public statements and press releases.
There has to be a deeper understanding of the need for change and why your organization has a responsibility to create and lead the change. Not every employee, student, customer, suppliers, etc. will get it or agree with your decision to take this on. You’ll need to be okay with that. And to lead effectively, two prerequisites are required for this work
— courage and confidence.


– Dr. Sandra Upton
 
Solutions

We provide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) resources, education, coaching, and strategic planning.



Keynotes

We deliver dynamic and engaging keynote presentations that inspire and motivate leaders and organizations to commit to creating inclusive organizations.



Consulting

Using one of the leading research-based change management models, we provide strategic planning and Organizational DEI Assessments to support organizations on their DEI journey.



Coaching

We come alongside DEI leaders and others engaged in the work and provide customized coaching support at both the individual and group levels.



Trainings

We design and facilitate experiential and customized learning and development programs that provide research-based and practical strategies that support DEI and focus on Inclusive Leadership.


Testimonials

Words From Trusted Clients

  • Dr. Barbara Nobles Crawford
    Dr. Upton is one of the market leaders in the DEI work, and deserves such recognition given our experience at Harvard University.
    Dr. Barbara Nobles Crawford
    CEO, Nobles Crawford & Partners
  • Ovell Barbee
    Leading the DEI work for a health care system with over 32,000 employees is no small feat. Working with Dr. Upton made a significant impact on our efforts and outcomes.
    Ovell Barbee
    Former Vice President, IU Health
  • Khumbo Croft
    As we continue to grow, the needs of our people and our customers continue to evolve as well.  Our partnership with Dr. Upton has shed light on gaps within our business and provided direction on how we can better provide for all those who we serve. We are looking forward to a continued relationship with Upton Consulting Group.
    Khumbo Croft
    North American Director Talent Development, Diversity & Engagement, Gordon Food Service
  • Charlene McClain
    My organization had the privilege of partnering with Dr. Sandra Upton to prepare our diversity, inclusion, and belonging champions to deliver Unconscious Bias Workshops. Dr. Upton’s global expertise and research-oriented approach resulted in a masterfully delivered and impactful session.  This will certainly influence our talent strategy.
    Charlene McClain
    Head of Learning Strategy, AstraZeneca
Testimonials

Words From Trusted Clients

  • Dr. Barbara Nobles Crawford
    Dr. Upton is one of the market leaders in the DEI work, and deserves such recognition given our experience at Harvard University.
    Dr. Barbara Nobles Crawford
    CEO, Nobles Crawford & Partners
  • Ovell Barbee
    Leading the DEI work for a health care system with over 32,000 employees is no small feat. Working with Dr. Upton made a significant impact on our efforts and outcomes.
    Ovell Barbee
    Former Vice President, IU Health
  • Khumbo Croft
    As we continue to grow, the needs of our people and our customers continue to evolve as well.  Our partnership with Dr. Upton has shed light on gaps within our business and provided direction on how we can better provide for all those who we serve. We are looking forward to a continued relationship with Upton Consulting Group.
    Khumbo Croft
    North American Director Talent Development, Diversity & Engagement, Gordon Food Service
  • Charlene McClain
    My organization had the privilege of partnering with Dr. Sandra Upton to prepare our diversity, inclusion, and belonging champions to deliver Unconscious Bias Workshops. Dr. Upton’s global expertise and research-oriented approach resulted in a masterfully delivered and impactful session.  This will certainly influence our talent strategy.
    Charlene McClain
    Head of Learning Strategy, AstraZeneca
 
ENROLL TODAY

DEI Propel™


Proven strategies to jumpstart and sustain your DEI work.


An experiential and interactive program designed to help diversity, equity and inclusion professionals and organizations develop a DEI Strategic Roadmap.


LEARN MORE

In addition, the same DEI Propel course is offered as an online on-demand course for DEI leaders ad allies anytime and everywhere. Click HERE to learn more.


 
 
ENROLL TODAY

DEI Propel™


Proven strategies to jumpstart and sustain your DEI work.


An experiential and interactive program designed to help diversity, equity and inclusion professionals and organizations develop a DEI Strategic Roadmap.


LEARN MORE
 

MAKE IT LAST: A Roadmap and Practical Strategies for How to Do DEI Work

Whether you are a chief diversity officer, a member of a DEI council, the leader of an employee resource group, a human resource professional, a middle manager, or a department head, but lack the support, skills, cultural intelligence, or confidence to lead and implement the real work, the map has been drawn. With Make It Last, you can turn feelings of failure and frustration into realities of progress and success.

Diversity Statement

We practice what we preach.


Our commitment to DEI goes well beyond telling DEI leaders and organizations what to do. We are committed to practicing what we preach by modeling the way.


The following are a few examples of our intentional actions:


  1. Our team will have diverse representation at every level of our organization.
  2. We commit to creating an inclusive work environment where every team member is treated equitably, feels a sense of belonging and thrives in the spaces they want to be included.
  3. Our Vendor and Supplier Diversity Program supports economic equity by ensuring that we have diverse partners and ensure that historically marginalized and underrepresented groups also benefit from these opportunities.
  4. We will produce an Annual DEI Transparency Report outlining our commitments and progress.
Contact

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