Culture Shift Team

What Culture Shift Team does

Culture Shift Team (CST), founded in 2017 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, is a privately held multicultural communications and DEI consulting firm operating with offices in Detroit, Southern California, and South Florida. The firm is led by co-founders Marcela Gómez (CEO), Ann Gillespie (COO), and Robert L. Wilson (CSO), with additional client executives and outreach staff supporting delivery. CST serves 150+ organizations across 18 industries — including automotive (BMW USA, Nissan North America), healthcare (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Schneider Electric), clean energy, nonprofits (Sexual Assault Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Barbershop Harmony Society), and government — helping them design DEI strategy, build inclusive leadership, and execute multicultural marketing campaigns.

CST's core products and frameworks include the Workplace Culture Lens (WCL), a strategic assessment and training methodology with a forthcoming Lens AI Coach; the Pathway Forward DEI Framework, co-developed with Renewables Forward for the clean-energy sector; and the CultureConnect e-learning platform, which distributes self-paced courses on bias mitigation, neurodiversity, psychological safety, organizational trust, and the business of inclusion via inclusionxchange.net. The technology stack is light — practitioner-led workshops, proprietary assessment frameworks, and a Wix-hosted content platform — with no disclosed APIs, integrations, or AI/ML pipelines beyond the announced WCL AI Coach.

The firm operates a hybrid professional-services and digital-content revenue model. Enterprise engagements (DEI coaching, leadership development workshops, multicultural PR and outreach campaigns) are quoted on a custom basis, typically multi-year, and delivered via on-site and virtual sessions. E-learning courses are sold as one-time/perpetual licenses with one-year access. CST also qualifies for SMB/WBE/DBE set-aside work via multiple government certifications, and is recognized by SHRM to grant Professional Development Credits. The firm achieved B Corp certification in February 2025 with a score of 85.6. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or parent/subsidiary relationships are disclosed.

Name

Culture Shift Team

Legal name

Culture Shift Team Inc.

Website

https://cultureshiftteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Culture Shift Team is a Nashville-based consulting firm providing DEI strategy, multicultural communications, and leadership development services to 150+ enterprise and nonprofit clients across 18 industries, delivered through proprietary frameworks and the CultureConnect e-learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Organizational Culture & Values-Based Leadership (EDABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

DEI, Inclusive Leadership & Cultural Intelligence Coaching (EDABANAJ), Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD), Language & Cross-Cultural Training (BPACANAL)

Keywords

• DEI consulting services
• Multicultural marketing
• Leadership development training
• Workplace culture consulting
• E-learning platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. DEI Consulting Services: One-on-one or small group coaching sessions led by experienced DEI practitioners, leadership development programs, organizational assessments, and strategic DEI planning for enterprise clients.
2. Training Workshops: In-person and virtual training sessions including Workplace Culture Lens workshops, Conscious Conflict workshops, and customized learning and development programs.
3. E-Learning Courses: Self-paced online courses sold through the CultureConnect platform and inclusionxchange.net. Courses include Mitigating Bias from Recruitment to Promotion (45 minutes), Factors that Undermine Organizational Trust (15 minutes), Neurodiversity in the Workplace, The Business of Inclusion, and How Organizations Build Psychological Safety.
4. Multicultural Marketing and Advertising: Campaign development and implementation including multicultural marketing, public relations, media planning and buying, and creative production services for clients requiring diverse audience outreach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Culture Shift Team is a multicultural communications and DEI consulting firm that delivers leadership development coaching, workplace culture assessments, DEI strategic planning, and multicultural marketing campaigns to enterprise, nonprofit, healthcare, and government clients. The company also distributes self-paced DEI e-learning courses through its proprietary CultureConnect platform and applies its Workplace Culture Lens (WCL) framework for organizational culture mapping.

Product overview

Culture Shift Team is a multicultural communications consulting firm and diversity, equity, and inclusion firm offering a portfolio of services and products. The core offerings include CultureConnect, an online education platform providing e-learnings and courses on DEIAB topics (Mitigating Bias, Organizational Trust, Neurodiversity, Psychological Safety, Business of Inclusion); the Workplace Culture Lens (WCL), a strategic framework for organizational culture assessment and development; DEI coaching and consulting services; and public relations and marketing services focused on multicultural outreach. The Pathway Forward DEI Framework is a specialized toolkit developed for the clean energy sector. The company operates primarily as a consulting firm with digital learning products forming a key part of its service delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CultureConnect: An educational platform offering e-learnings, podcasts, micro e-learnings, videos, webinars, live virtual sessions, online book clubs, film and documentaries, and community events engagement for advancing inclusion in workplaces.
• Workplace Culture Lens (WCL)

Products and services

• CultureConnect Online education platform offering e-learnings, micro e-learnings, podcasts, webinars, live virtual sessions, online book clubs, films and documentaries, and community events to advance inclusion in workplaces. Targeted at HR leaders, L&D professionals, and enterprise employees.
• Workplace Culture Lens (WCL) Proprietary strategic framework and assessment that helps organizations see, understand, and intentionally shape workplace culture, including Assessment & Culture Mapping, Targeted Training, and a Lens AI Coach.
• Mitigating Bias from Recruitment to Promotion A 45-minute interactive e-learning course designed for leaders to hone skills in bias detection and mitigation across the employee lifecycle, from hiring through advancement.
• Factors that Undermine Organizational Trust A 15-minute self-paced e-learning course helping leaders and HR professionals identify and address subtle behaviors and attitudes that erode trust in the workplace.
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace A 15-minute e-learning course covering communication strategies, empathetic leadership, and inclusive team building for supporting neurodiverse individuals in organizations.
• The Business of Inclusion A comprehensive e-learning course exploring how DEIAB principles transform organizations, covering definitions, business impact, and strategic implementation.
• How Organizations Build Psychological Safety A 15-minute self-paced e-learning course led by Robert L. Wilson focused on understanding psychological safety and its role in fostering an inclusive, innovative, and high-performing workplace.
• Pathway Forward DEI Framework A comprehensive DEI resource developed for the clean energy industry, identifying six key levers for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, with self-assessment tools, resource library, and adoption toolkit.
• DEI Coaching One-on-one or small group coaching sessions led by experienced DEI practitioners that create safe spaces to tackle charged issues and develop action plans for inclusive leadership.
• Leadership Development Workshops and training programs helping leaders apply practical principles to their day-to-day approach to inclusion and managing diverse teams.
• Public Relations & Multicultural Marketing Services Multicultural marketing, public relations, marketing strategy, campaign development and implementation, culture-driven messaging, event planning, and signature campaigns for organizations seeking diverse audience outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% increase in crisis line calls within 30 days of PSA campaign launch
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Renewables ForwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST partnered with Renewables Forward to develop the Pathway Forward DEI Framework for the clean energy sector in 2024. This comprehensive framework identifies six key levers for advancing DEI and includes assessment tools, resource library, and adoption toolkit. The partnership involved collaboration with leading clean energy organizations including American Clean Power Association, American Council on Renewable Energy, Clean Energy Buyers Association, National Hydropower Association, and Solar Energy Industries Association.
• MP&F CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST was part of the public relations and community outreach team with MP&F Communications for the NashvilleNEXT project (2012-2015). Tasks included brand ambassador training and management, transcreations of communications pieces, multicultural community outreach, event planning, focus groups, public relations, and media relations.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VICTR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST designed and led the communications outreach campaign for the Pass It On clinical trial (July 2020 - December 2021) to inform minority communities about the trial taking place at 26 hospitals across the US. CST helped recruit diverse COVID-19 patients including essential workers from Black and Latino communities.
• NAACPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST partnered with NAACP for the Pass It On clinical trial educational webinar series, making research experts available to community organizations to address questions about the study and risks for patients.
• Black and Multicultural Fraternity Alumni AssociationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST leveraged partnerships with area Black and multicultural fraternity alumni associations to recruit prospective volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.
• Futuro Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST engaged Nissan's community partner Futuro Inc., a Latinx college student group, to help with brand development for the GEN I STEM outreach program. Students helped create the program name and select logo design.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cook Ross: Boutique DEI consulting firm offering leadership development, culture assessments, and inclusion strategy to mid-to-large enterprises — directly comparable to CST's service mix and target buyer profile.
• The Winters Group: DEI and cultural competence consulting firm focused on leadership coaching and organizational transformation — closely aligned with CST's executive coaching and culture framework offerings.
• BlueBeyond Consulting: Boutique leadership development and culture consulting firm — comparable in scale, delivery model (coaching + workshops), and enterprise client focus.
• MP&F Communications: Multicultural PR and community outreach agency that has partnered with CST on past campaigns — comparable multicultural communications capability and overlap in public-sector clients.

Emerging players

• Promise54: DEI-focused consulting and research organization serving education and mission-driven sectors — overlaps with CST's nonprofit and education client base and uses a similar data-driven approach.
• Esperanza Community Services / HCM Strategists (DEI advisory): Specialist advisory firms focused on equity-centered consulting for nonprofits, healthcare, and education — comparable sector focus and outcome-driven engagement model.
• Greenhouse (Inclusion add-ons) / Textio: Tech-enabled talent and inclusion platforms (Textio for bias-aware language, Greenhouse inclusion features) — emerging productized alternative to CST's bias-mitigation training that could commoditize parts of CST's curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry (DEI Practice): Global organizational consulting firm with a significant DEI and leadership practice — represents the larger, broader incumbent competitor CST faces in enterprise DEI RFPs.
• Catalyst: Global nonprofit research and advisory organization focused on advancing women in the workplace; overlaps with CST's inclusion strategy and leadership development work for enterprise buyers.
• DiversityInc: DEI media, benchmarking, and consulting platform serving Fortune 500 buyers — adjacent competitor for CST's enterprise DEI assessment and benchmarking engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4Vi8-yBYFKbPS26U7JeXmw
• Facebookfacebook.com/cultureshiftteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/culture-shift-team
• Instagraminstagram.com/cultureshiftteam
• Xx.com/_Culture_Shift

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Culture Shift Team