Joy Johnson-Carruthers is a consultant, trainer, and group facilitator dedicated to helping clients apply diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies that make a difference. A former police officer and US Army Veteran, Joy’s expansive career in the public and private sector make her a sought-after Public Speaker, HR Consultant, Master Facilitator, Executive Coach, and Workforce Development Leader with over twenty years of award-winning experience developing leaders and high-performing teams across the United States and abroad.
Joy’s life passion is to dismantle racism and discrimination in the workplace and the communities they serve. She has successfully designed and initiated results-oriented DEI-focused processes, strategic plans, programs, workshops, training, dialogues, and discussions for senior leaders, people managers, and staff that encourage learning, reflection, awareness, and understanding of community-building across differences.
As an experienced keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and DEI strategist, Joy has worked with hundreds of organizations, including HCA Healthcare, Tennessee State Government, Metro Nashville Police Academy, Shriners Hospital, Waste Management, Lipscomb University, and a host of others. Joy is a member of the executive board for the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management and recipient of the HR professional of the year and the DEI professional of the year award.
Joy earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Lincoln University and a master’s degree in cultural studies from UCLA. Her studies abroad include Senegal, West Africa, and Seoul, South Korea. Joy taught Humanities and Cultural Studies as an adjunct professor for over ten years at various colleges and Universities, including Los Angeles, Southwest College, West LA College, Brookhaven College, and graduate teaching assistant at UCLA. She holds multiple organizational development and facilitation certifications, including DDI Master facilitator, (SHRM) Senior Certified HR Professional, DEI Certification, and Circle Facilitation Certificate.
Joy believes workplaces can and should be welcoming, safe, and healthy environments where all employees can thrive and grow. Her dynamic presentations are a call to action for allyship, change, and making a difference. Beyond her business consulting and service work, Joy enjoys playing tennis, traveling the globe with her husband, and learning about other cultures.
