Valda Ford

From describing her first experience with a public toilet in a West African refugee camp to explaining how to defuse rage and resentment when the arrogance of professionals contributed to the death of her son, she mesmerizes her audiences “…with her commanding presence, her authoritative presentations, and her mix of styles – humor, stories, solid use of data.”¹ Valda is a living library of cultural competency case studies compiled of the sheer expansiveness of her international travels and cross-cultural experiences.

Valda is the President and CEO of the Center for Human Diversity, Inc, the host and executive producer of Valda’s Place – a long-standing cable television talk show, a member of the National Speakers Association, the Global Speakers Federation, and Toastmasters International. She has received numerous honors and awards for her work as Director of Refugee Initiatives for Unite for Sight and other nationally recognized civic organizations.

Valda holds a Master of Public Health Policy Analysis and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Nursing Administration from Creighton University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from High Point University.

Valda’s career includes nearly a decade of service in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. From Fortune 500 companies and small businesses to health organizations and law enforcement agencies, Valda has made presentations on leadership, public health, and cultural competency in 25 states of the U.S, as well as in over 40 countries abroad including China, Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Wales, Poland, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Denmark, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Australia.

Valda Boyd Ford’s Guide to Living, Laughing and Loving

This is a 40-minute journey into the soul of one of America’s brightest new voices. It’s a primer on using grace and humor to get you through it all, whatever and wherever your ALL may be. Valda Boyd Ford has presented and worked professionally in over 36 countries and over 25 states as an author, executive, nurse, educator, and acclaimed cultural competency and diversity expert. From the refugee camp to the board room — she makes the message relevant for every audience and situation.

The Paralysis of Political Correctness

Have you ever been afraid to speak for fear you will say the wrong thing? Worse yet have you been afraid that something you said may end your career? Why are we paralyzed by political correctness? What can we do to eliminate that fear? Valda’s thought-provoking and to-the-point presentation identifies and defines the paralysis of political correctness and explores diverse strategies to eliminate or lessen the fear of the unknown that keep us from doing our best in culturally and linguistically awkward situations.

Don’t Touch the Monk: and Other Stories of Global Faux Pas

Valda Boyd-Ford, a nationally and internationally renowned motivational speaker, has spent more than two decades developing programs and strategies to improve communication. Trying to fit in globally she has made many mistakes, faux pas, gaffes – you name it. Some funny and some downright disastrous! Valda shares the wisdom of her experiences through storytelling, case studies, and personal video clips. She brings a down-to-earth informality to her presentations – making her one of the most intellectually disarming, humorous, and effective presenters on race, ethnicity, privilege, and cultural competency in the nation.

Valda’s other topics are:

Living, Laughing, Loving (health and work/life balance)

Women’s health

Leadership and Humor (especially about my travels around the world and making many fax pas and surviving them)

Paralysis of Political Correctness/Diversity