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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D.

    Entrepreneur | Consultant | Senior Leader | Professor

    CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Holds over 25 years of senior leadership experience across corporate, public, and academic sectors.
    • 2.Served as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Akerman law firm.
    • 3.Has held international visiting scholar positions in Ghana, South Africa, and at the University of Oxford.
    • 4.Founder of CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC, a consulting firm focused on leadership and organizational development.
    • 5.Completed an executive education program in Corporate Social Responsibility at Harvard Business School.

    About Cassandra

    Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D. is an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, recognized for her extensive experience in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and corporate social responsibility across public, private, and academic sectors.

    Who is Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D.?

    Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D. is a distinguished senior executive, faculty member, consultant, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of leadership experience. Her career spans influential roles at organizations such as Visa, General Electric, Sodexo, GlaxoSmithKline, and Akerman law firm, where she served as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. Dr. Caldwell is also the founder of CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC, leveraging her expertise as a consultant and senior leader.

    Dr. Caldwell is an internationally recognized scholar and thought leader. She has held visiting scholar positions in Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland, and at The Oxford Round Table for Women's Leadership at the University of Oxford. Her insights on leadership have been presented in numerous countries, reflecting her global perspective on organizational and human resource development.

    Quick facts about Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D.

    | | | |---| | Role | Entrepreneur, Consultant, Senior Leader, Professor | | Company | CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC | | Based in | (not set) | | Expertise | Leadership Development, Organizational Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Talent Acquisition, Strategic Communication, Public Administration | | Notable for | Award-winning executive, international academic appointments, diverse leadership roles across sectors | | BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |

    What is Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D. known for?

    Dr. Caldwell is known for her comprehensive expertise and impactful contributions across various domains:

    • Leadership Development and Organizational Effectiveness: Guiding organizations in cultivating strong leadership and optimizing structures for performance.
    • Corporate Social Responsibility and Citizenship: Developing and implementing strategies for ethical business practices and community engagement.
    • Talent Acquisition and Management: Crafting effective approaches for attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.
    • Strategic Communication and Public Administration: Applying expert communication strategies within public and administrative contexts.
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Leading initiatives to foster inclusive workplace cultures, notably as a former Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.
    • International Academic Engagements: Serving as a visiting scholar at prestigious institutions globally, including the University of Oxford.

    What is Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D.'s background and experience?

    Dr. Caldwell's extensive background includes over two decades in leadership roles within the public sector, private sector, and higher education. Prior to founding CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC, she held significant positions at global corporations and academic institutions.

    Her academic credentials include:

    • Ph.D. in Human and Community Resource Development from The Ohio State University.
    • Master of Public Administration (MPA) from North Carolina Central University.
    • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Speech Communication from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
    • Executive Education program completion in Corporate Social Responsibility at Harvard Business School.

    Beyond her corporate and academic roles, Dr. Caldwell is a philanthropist, having established the Dr. Cassandra Denise Caldwell Endowed Fellowship and Scholarship at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University, benefiting first-generation college students.

    What topics does Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D. speak and write about?

    Dr. Caldwell frequently speaks and consults on a wide range of topics central to modern organizational success. Her areas of focus include leadership, organizational development, and talent management, emphasizing how these elements drive strategic growth and employee engagement. She also addresses the critical importance of corporate social responsibility and strategic communication in today's global business environment.

    Her insights extend to nonprofit management and public administration, drawing from her diverse career experiences. Dr. Caldwell's work consistently highlights the interconnectedness of effective leadership, robust organizational structures, and a commitment to societal impact. While she has not yet presented webinars for the Best Practice Institute, her areas of expertise align closely with BPI's mission to advance best practices in leadership and organizational development.

    How does Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D. contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D. contributes her extensive knowledge and experience to BPI's mission of identifying and disseminating best practices in leadership and organizational effectiveness. Her multidisciplinary background across public, private, and academic sectors provides a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities leaders face today.

    Dr. Caldwell's expertise directly supports BPI's research and initiatives, including the Most Loved Workplace® certification and the SPARK Model. Her insights into leadership development, talent acquisition, and corporate social responsibility are invaluable for organizations striving to create thriving and productive work environments, fostering the conditions under which employees can truly love their workplace.

    Where can you learn more from Cassandra D. Caldwell, Ph.D.?

    While Dr. Caldwell has not yet presented webinars for the Best Practice Institute, her work is featured in publications such as Black Enterprise Magazine, Profiles in Diversity Journal, and INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine. Further details on her background and expertise can be found through her affiliations with various higher education institutions and CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC, offering opportunities to explore her perspectives on leadership and organizational development.

    Background & Perspective

    Background and Experience

    With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Dr. Cassandra D. Caldwell is a senior executive, faculty member, consultant, and entrepreneur. Her leadership experience encompasses the public, private, and academic sectors, with influential roles at major organizations such as Visa, General Electric, Sodexo, and GlaxoSmithKline. She also served as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at the Akerman law firm. As the founder of CD Caldwell Enterprises, LLC, she leverages her extensive expertise to provide consulting services.

    Areas of Expertise

    Dr. Caldwell is recognized for her comprehensive knowledge in several key areas:

    • Leadership Development & Organizational Effectiveness: Guiding organizations in cultivating strong leadership and optimizing structures for peak performance.
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Leading initiatives to foster inclusive and equitable workplace cultures.
    • Corporate Social Responsibility: Developing and implementing strategies for ethical business practices and community engagement.
    • Talent Acquisition & Management: Crafting effective approaches for attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.
    • Strategic Communication & Public Administration: Applying expert communication strategies within public and administrative contexts.

    Academic Credentials and Philanthropy

    Dr. Caldwell is an internationally recognized scholar, having held visiting scholar positions in Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland, and at The Oxford Round Table for Women's Leadership at the University of Oxford. Her academic credentials include:

    • Ph.D. in Human and Community Resource Development from The Ohio State University
    • Master of Public Administration (MPA) from North Carolina Central University
    • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Speech Communication from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    • Executive Education in Corporate Social Responsibility from Harvard Business School

    A dedicated philanthropist, Dr. Caldwell established the Dr. Cassandra Denise Caldwell Endowed Fellowship and Scholarship at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University to support first-generation college students.

    Areas of Expertise

    Leadership DevelopmentOrganizational DevelopmentTalent AcquisitionCorporate Social ResponsibilityStrategic CommunicationNonprofit ManagementPublic AdministrationDEI

    Research Topics

    LeadershipOrganizational DevelopmentTalent ManagementCorporate Responsibility

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    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.