DEI Leadership Institute

What DEI Leadership Institute does

DEI Leadership Institute is a Denver, Colorado-based private professional development and certification organization founded around 2020 that sells memberships, a multi-level certification, and live events to DEI professionals, corporate leaders, HR practitioners, and organizations seeking structured diversity, equity, and inclusion training. The core commercial offering is a three-tier annual membership (Explore $350, Lead $2,500, Master $5,000) that unlocks discounts on the Speaker Series, Annual Conference, and adjacent products, alongside a $850 one-time DEI Master Practitioner Certification that progresses through three sub-levels (Explore, Lead, Master) over 6–8 weeks. An Annual Conference (held in 2023 and 2024) and an ongoing Speaker Series, the latter co-developed with the Colorado Attorney General's Office and the City of Denver, serve as flagship engagement and lead-generation vehicles, while the Inclusion Deck functions as a stand-alone adjunct product.

The business is operated by a five-person team led by founder Maria Putnam, whose prior corporate DEI consulting work spanned Comcast, Cisco, Ericsson, Coors, and Starz Entertainment, supported by an advisor cohort with UN, global business transformation, and psychology backgrounds. There is no proprietary technology platform; distribution and transactions run through a WordPress/WooCommerce website with self-serve checkout, brochure-download lead capture, and social channels on Facebook and Instagram. International scope is signaled only at the Master tier through speaking and networking opportunities in Africa and the U.K., but the geographic and customer base remains anchored in the Denver/Colorado region.

Revenue derives from three streams: recurring annual memberships, one-time certification fees, and event/conference ticket plus sponsorship income, with custom corporate packages available on request. Strategic partners include Global Chamber Denver (where the founder established a women's network and serves on the board) and a roster of regional supporters and conference sponsors. The organization has no disclosed funding, no institutional investors, no M&A activity, and no AI/technology differentiation, positioning it as a community- and content-led boutique consultancy rather than a scaled platform.

Name

DEI Leadership Institute

Legal name

DEI Leadership Institute

Website

https://leaddei.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DEI Leadership Institute is a Denver-based private organization that sells tiered memberships, a $850 DEI Master Practitioner certification, and annual events to DEI professionals, corporate leaders, and HR practitioners seeking structured training and community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Professional Development and Certification

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

DEI, Culture & Employee Engagement Training (BPACANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

DEI, Equity & Inclusion Training (EDABAIAF), DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting (BPAHAGAJ), Workplace Culture, DEI & Psychological Safety (EDAAAKAJ)

Keywords

• DEI certification training
• Diversity leadership education
• Professional membership programs
• DEI consulting services
• Workplace inclusion training

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Three-tier annual membership program: MASTER ($5,000/year), LEAD ($2,500/year), EXPLORE ($350/year). Benefits include conference discounts, speaker series access, networking events, and DEI Membership Directory access. Higher tiers unlock international speaking opportunities and board application eligibility.
2. DEI Master Practitioner Certification: One-time certification fee of $850. Program designed to be completed within 6-8 weeks with three levels (Explore, Lead, Master). Includes advisor support, resources, and potential showcase opportunity at annual conference.
3. Conference and Event Revenue: Annual Conference with attendee fees, plus sponsorships from corporate and community partners. Speaker Series events with discount pricing for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DEI Leadership Institute sells tiered annual memberships (Master $5,000, Lead $2,500, Explore $350) and a DEI Master Practitioner Certification program ($850 one-time, 6-8 weeks, three levels) for diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals. It also operates an Annual Conference, a recurring Speaker Series, the Inclusion Deck product, and offers customized corporate training and membership packages for organizations.

Product overview

DEI Leadership Institute is a professional development and certification organization offering a unified portfolio of membership-based programs and events. The core offering is the DEI Master Practitioner Certification program ($850), a six-to-eight-week certification available at three levels (Explore, Lead, Master). This is supported by tiered membership programs (Master $5,000, Lead $2,500, Explore $350) that provide conference access, speaker series invitations, and networking opportunities. The organization also hosts an Annual Conference and Speaker Series events. The Inclusion Deck is a related product offered at membership discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inclusion Deck: A product offered by the DEI Leadership Institute, referenced as an Inclusion Deck and other Institute products.
• DEI Master Practitioner Certification

Products and services

• DEI Leadership Institute Membership Annual membership program offered in three tiers (Master $5,000, Lead $2,500, Explore $350) that provides DEI professionals with networking opportunities through the Diverse Leadership Coalition, the DEI Membership Directory, conference and Speaker Series discounts, and international speaking/networking access in Africa and the U.K. at the Master tier.
• DEI Master Practitioner Certification Six-to-eight-week certification program with three levels (Explore, Lead, Master) priced at $850 one-time, designed to train leaders to create and implement DEI strategies, assess unconscious bias and microaggressions, and develop organizational DEI strategic plans. Includes a DEI Advisor, resources, conference showcase opportunity, and DEI network access.
• Annual DEI Leadership Conference Annual in-person conference that brings together DEI professionals for knowledge expansion, networking, and skill development, featuring keynote speakers and drawing sponsors and supporters from the Colorado business community.
• DEI Speaker Series Recurring content-driven presentations featuring Colorado's prominent voices on race, diversity, equity, and inclusion, followed by networking opportunities, with partners including the Colorado Attorney General's Office and the City of Denver.
• Inclusion Deck Standalone Inclusion Deck product offered by DEI Leadership Institute, available at discount to membership holders (20% off for Lead tier, 50% off for Master tier), supporting DEI conversations and organizational inclusion initiatives.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Posner Center for International DevelopmentminorOthersConference sponsor providing support for the Annual DEI Leadership Conference.
• FitzsimonsminorOthersConference sponsor supporting DEI Leadership Institute Annual Conference.
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusminorOthersConference sponsor representing academic medical institution supporting DEI initiatives.
• Denver Economic Development & OpportunitiesminorOthersSupporter of DEI Leadership Institute providing economic development partnership.
• Global ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaria Putnam established the Global Women's Online Network at Global Chamber Denver and serves on its board. Strategic partnership for international DEI networking and business community engagement.
• Denver City PartnersminorOthersSupporter of DEI Leadership Institute initiatives in Denver.
• The Chamber (Denver)minorOthersChamber supporter for DEI Leadership Institute programs.
• Community College of AuroraminorOthersEducational institution supporter of DEI initiatives.
• Colorado Attorney General's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Speaker Series events, bringing Colorado's paramount voices on race, diversity, equity and inclusion.
• City of DenvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Speaker Series events on DEI topics in Colorado.
• Institute for UnLearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocío Durán collaborates with this institute to facilitate strategic changes in corporate culture that emphasize engagement and empathy.
• Women's Foundation of ColoradominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocío Durán participates in Week of Women team, initiative created and promoted by Women's Foundation of Colorado and CBS4.
• Latino Leadership Institute at Denver UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocío Durán is currently a fellow of Latino Leadership Institute's 9th Cohort at Denver University.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Winters Group: DEI consulting and training firm providing leadership development, certification-style programs, and organizational DEI strategy work to corporate clients.
• Diversity Best Practices: Membership-driven DEI professional network offering conferences, summits, and benchmarking aimed at chief diversity officers and DEI leaders, closely overlapping with the Institute's target persona.
• National Diversity Council: Operates a similar DEI-focused membership, certification, and large-scale annual conference model (Diversity & Inclusion Conference) targeting the same DEI practitioner audience.
• Paradigm Strategy: DEI consulting firm offering training, strategic advising, and leadership programs to organizations pursuing inclusion initiatives.
• Catalyst: Global nonprofit focused on advancing women and DEI in the workplace through research, certification, and leadership programs, addressing the same leadership/practitioner audience.
• CEO Forum on Diversity and Inclusion: Membership-based organization convening senior executives around DEI topics through forums, summits, and content, directly comparable to the Institute's community-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry (DEI practice): Global consulting firm with an established DEI advisory practice offering leadership coaching, strategy, and training to enterprise clients as part of a broader talent management portfolio.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): Largest HR professional association offering DEI-related credentials, training, and conferences as part of a broader HR portfolio; competes for the same HR professional segment seeking DEI certification.

Regional players

• American Conference on Diversity: Conference-driven nonprofit producing DEI events and training programs, overlapping with the Institute's annual conference and Speaker Series model.

Others

• Global Chamber Denver: Strategic partner of the Institute, providing international business networking and DEI-adjacent programming that overlaps with the Institute's global network agenda for Master-tier members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dei.institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/dei.institute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/dei-leadership-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 DEI Leadership Institute