About Us

Tamika D. Payne, the founder, is an internationally recognized expert on gender-based violence (GBV), gender equality, and diversity, equity and social inclusion (DESI). She has 20 years of experience, including 11 years in international development and humanitarian affairs. Ms. Payne is a public speaker, skilled facilitator, and thought leader who weaves together her extensive professional experience with her personal (and shared) experiences of being a queer, black woman (and other intersecting identities) navigating senior leadership positions to elevate the work of protection and equity at all levels of an organization. She provides--and works with subject matter experts--to provide Intersectionality driven consulting services that create inclusive environments with expertise in gender equality, gender-based violence, and diversity, equity, and social inclusion. She started her career counseling sexual violence survivors; then ran a sexual assault counseling program in Michigan. Later she became the Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She has served on federal funding boards, task forces, the RAINN advisory board, and others. Ms. Payne transitioned to working internationally, becoming a GBV technical advisor, and then the global coordinator overseeing GBV in humanitarian settings for the United Nations. She has presented at numerous international forums and developed global level strategy as well as community-based interventions. She has helped shape the local, national, and international policy, such as the Call to Action.Ms. Payne addresses the lack of intersectionality and DESI in the anti-violence movement, as well as in broader gender equality efforts, strategies, and organizational development with Universities, Corporations, and Non-governmental organizations. Ms. Payne meets each client where they are. She works with--and through--their individual, programmatic or organizational challenges to collaboratively build and support the implementation of integrated, inclusive, intersectional strategies that will create and sustain equitable, inclusive environments. She is the President, Board of Directors, New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault and member of the Global GBV Community of Practice.