Gloria J. Burgess

It is a pleasure to recommend to you the amazing Gloria Burgess. In my early days as CEO of CRISTA Ministries, Gloria consulted with our Executives in the area of leadership during tumultuous times. Gloria is truly a leader of leaders. With her vast background in leadership theory, her ability to listen well, and a gift of facilitating tough conversations, Gloria helped our team find our best voice spiritually and practically. I am grateful for Gloria’s wisdom, and I feel that our ministry is in a better place because of her godly guidance. She is truly a values-centered leader.

Gloria has been an invaluable source of expertise, wisdom, common sense and guidance for me over a number of years now. I look forward with eagerness to every time we get to meet as I know I will always leave with invaluable wisdom, insight, a renewed confidence and clarity as well as the warm hug from someone who has become a great friend and confident. What I particularly value and respect about Gloria is her ability to go deep in conversations, calmly and gently and give me results and thoughts for reflection every time, transformational thoughts. For me, having been in and built business for almost 30 years and now driving a rapidly scaling national social enterprise, Gloria’s expertise in leadership, inclusion, creativity, innovation, and systems--in contexts that include IT, medicine, philanthropy, education, government, finance, arts, civic, NGOs, & beyond have enabled me to get insight and advice from an experienced professional who is values led and who I 100% trust. Both being Executive Directors with Maxwell Leadership, I’m fortunate to meet Gloria a number of times annually and we’ve also worked together in Paraguay and met in Ireland. Together we’ve untangled challenges I was tripping myself up over and explored transformational change and ideas I hadn’t even thought of. She has added huge value to me and my journey with LIFT Ireland. Whether in Ireland, the US or anywhere, I’d encourage anyone looking for transformational change i.e., authentic, inclusive, values-based leadership, to reach out to collaborate with Gloria - she is one in a million and I am very grateful to know her.

Gloria is a true change agent in every sense of the word. Not only does she model authenticity; she nurtures growth in others in a way that is truly inspiring. Gloria knows how to influence people and systems in a way that few people can, and she inspires others to be the best they can be. She is also a very results-oriented leader and coach. People who work with Gloria never forget it. She leaves a legacy wherever she goes!

I am pleased to recommend Dr. Gloria Burgess for her exemplary contribution to Extreme Network's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. As a skilled transformational and inclusive practitioner, Dr. Burgess has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of inclusion and transformational leadership principles, effectively leveraging her expertise to foster a more diverse and equitable workplace environment. Through her tailored training programs, Dr. Burgess has significantly raised awareness and understanding of DEI issues among our employees. Her sessions have not only educated our team members but have also inspired meaningful conversations and actions towards creating a more inclusive workplace culture. Dr. Burgess excels in creating safe and open spaces for dialogue, where individuals feel encouraged to share their perspectives and experiences, fostering a culture of respect and understanding. One of Dr. Burgess's key strengths is her ability to engage diverse audiences and adapt her training methodologies to suit different learning styles. Her inclusive approach ensures that all participants feel valued and empowered to contribute to the ongoing DEI efforts within our organization. By incorporating interactive exercises, real-life examples, and thought-provoking discussions, Dr. Burgess has successfully challenged biases and encouraged individuals to embrace inclusive behaviors in both their professional and personal lives. I highly recommend Dr. Burgess to any organization seeking to enhance their DEI efforts and create a more inclusive and equitable work environment. Dr. Burgess's expertise, professionalism, and genuine dedication to advancing Inclusive and Transformational Leadership principles make her an invaluable asset to any team.

Gloria brings great wisdom, passion, creativity and heart to any endeavor and interaction. Her contributions to both individuals and organizations expand capabilities and have impact beyond what was imagined when beginning their work together. If you want you want your creativity to be expressed in the world, Gloria can bring more life to your life!

I first came to know Gloria through a professional relationship. I participated in a workshop intensive that she provided and found her inspiring, creative, intelligent, and caring. I have attended various presentations of hers and always find her knowledgeable and inspiring. It has been a pleasure to recommend her many times as a speaker. Her focus, insight and boldness as a sounding board have been valuable to me. It’s been a privilege supporting her with her endeavors. I highly recommend utilizing Gloria’s talents, knowledge and skills.

Gloria is a phenomenal person! She is a dynamic and soulful speaker, author, musician, and a wonderful poet. I worked for Gloria as an independent consultant while she was the Director of Organization Learning at Casey Family Programs. Her leadership skills are respected and admired. She is a deep thinker and uses her wisdom to see and suggest solutions that are transforming. Her books that I have read are very helpful and deeply nurturing. I am fortunate to have met Gloria!

I’m delighted to recommend my friend and colleague, Gloria Burgess. I recruited Gloria to Casey Family Programs to be the Senior Director of Organizational Learning, and it was one of the best personnel-related decisions I’ve made during my 35-year career in human resources. Gloria is exceptional in so many ways – a brilliant (two-way) communicator, first rate strategist, remarkable innovator and top of the line leader, just to mention a few of her qualities. Her people skills are among the best I’ve seen, and she is just plain smart, smart, smart. Gloria has a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience that allows her to move comfortably and effectively between the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds. I highly recommend Gloria to any organization looking to strengthen its training and development function.

Gloria glows delicious wisdom in the most unsuspecting places. There are some people who are consistently kind, productive, and authentic. Gloria is one of those rare ones. She offers wonderful learning experiences in everything she does. Her guidance struck me strongly, "Only do that which you are willing to die for."

Gloria has a deep-down, soul understanding of what it takes to optimize individuals and organizations. Gloria's gentle, solution-focused and creative ways helped our team realign itself and prosper through a challenging transition. Hire Gloria when you and/or your organization are ready to grow!

If your organization whether public or private, is seeking change through transformational leadership, look no further than Dr. Gloria Burgess! I’m speaking from my personal experience of being on the receiving end of her incredible knowledge and expertise fashioned in a style that I’ve not seen anywhere else. I first met Gloria 20 years ago while leading the Child Protective Services program for the state of Texas. I was committed to systems transformation but not so clear on how to engage a large leadership team in the bold and courageous work of addressing racial disproportionality and disparities. Gloria came in like a breath of fresh air and helped to create a culture of trust and respect that led to cultural and philosophical shifts that allowed our system to yield some amazing improvements in outcomes for children, youth, and families. Gloria has many years of experience in multiple disciplines and a proven track record in transformational leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging!

I am honored to recommend Dr. Gloria Burgess. She is exceptional in her ability to relate to diverse audiences and presents to leaders around the globe. From Italy to the Czech Republic, from Australia to the African continent and beyond, Dr. Burgess touches the soul and leaves audiences mesmerized with her message as well as motivated with a sense of what they can do individually and collectively to make their team better and the world richer for all. She enjoys working with clients from diverse sectors, including business, IT, health care, education, philanthropy, mental health, government, arts, civic, and finance. Whether you are working with Dr. Burgess in the US or across the globe, she is the real deal! Gloria is authentic, inclusive, and collaborative. Her signature approach to values-based leadership is what the world needs. I’ve known Dr. Burgess and her work for many years, and every time I hear her speak or participate in her leadership forums and retreats, I am renewed with her contagious, positive energy.

It is a pleasure to recommend to you the amazing Gloria Burgess. In my early days as CEO of CRISTA Ministries, Gloria consulted with our Executives in the area of leadership during tumultuous times. Gloria is truly a leader of leaders. With her vast background in leadership theory, her ability to listen well, and a gift of facilitating tough conversations, Gloria helped our team find our best voice spiritually and practically. I am grateful for Gloria’s wisdom and I feel that our ministry is in a better place because of her godly guidance. She is truly a values-centered leader.

Dr. Gloria, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for your exceptional keynote speech at today’s International Women Day’s celebration hosted at IFAD on behalf of the three United Nations Rome-based agencies. Your ability to connect with the audience so deeply is truly remarkable. Your speech moved the heart of all who listened. Your passion for gender equality and women's empowerment was evident in every word you spoke, and your presence truly made the event memorable. Your contribution to our celebration has left a lasting impact.

Wow! You, Dr. Gloria Burgess, have an incredible gift. The fact that you can transform a virtual Zoom call into a mesmerizing soulful experience for hundreds of our employees around the world is extraordinary. We are truly blessed. The feedback and reaction from our Extreme team has been nothing short of overwhelmingly positive. Dr. Burgess will become a legendary inspiration for us. All of us have goose bumps! The fact that your dad had that connection with William Faulkner is so interesting. And, the fact that your father had the courage to “speak up” in the face of adversity and how that impacted the destiny of your family is amazing. How this message ties into our values of inclusion and getting “non dominant” voices to speak up inside of Extreme is so powerful. Thank you so much for your amazing insights, inspiration and wisdom! Again! How fortunate is our Extreme community to have your presence!! I highly recommend Dr. Gloria Burgess for any audience.... you're in for a treat!

I first met Dr. Gloria in Switzerland where we were both scheduled as keynote speakers. I was so impressed by her presentation that I invited her to present the keynote for our 50th Anniversary Tribute for the Women’s Anti-Apartheid March in Pretoria, South Africa. I’ve attended a lot of conferences and workshops, and I have to say that hearing Dr. Burgess speak was truly an electric experience. People were so on the edge of their seat that you could hear a pin drop. She was just tremendous!!

Dr. Burgess, your commencement speech was remarkable. The commitment that you and your sisters have to your father’s legacy to “Pass It On” is so inspiring. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to play a small part in righting a wrong and contributing to spreading the word about such a phenomenal story of determination and perseverance.

Dr. Gloria Burgess delivered a powerful and inspiring keynote at our annual Imagineering Day event. Her message was both timely and impactful, challenging our team to seize the opportunities we have—to connect and collaborate with one another. Gloria’s ability to blend wisdom with actionable insights left a lasting impression on everyone, energizing us to approach our work with renewed purpose and creativity.

Dr. Gloria Burgess’s presence at our gala conference truly added a special touch. Her closing session talk was absolutely phenomenal. It was the perfect end to our event, leaving everyone inspired and motivated. Her energy and insights resonated deeply with the audience, and I've received countless compliments about her presentation. It's no surprise that Dr. Burgess’s words struck a chord – she has a remarkable way of connecting with people. I can’t thank her enough!

Dr. Burgess, we received excellent feedback from your session. You delivered a keynote during a time of civil unrest, and you took people where they were and began to move the conversation forward. It was very much on target. We really appreciate that you listened to us and provided just the right approach. It was a pleasure working with you!

I share with great enthusiasm my adoration and appreciation for Dr. Gloria Burgess. For the past decade and a half, Gloria has contributed to USC’s annual Women’s Conference, presenting keynotes for our kickoff, luncheon, and closing. Most recently, she was our first exclusive VIP dinner host and speaker. Year after year, our guests have been captivated by Gloria’s authentic voice, her extraordinary spirit, and her ability to connect to each person in the audience. It’s a joy working with Gloria as she makes great efforts to work with our event organizers to understand the goals, tone, and desired outcomes of each program and never attempts to give us the same delivery from before. Her company name—Jazz, Inc.—is spot on. Gloria IS jazz! I’ve witnessed her take abstract, unrelated concepts and turn them into beautiful sounds, words, and ideas that have inspired our women’s conference goers and left them wanting more.

Dr. Gloria Burgess was our keynote speaker for ABWA’s Symposium “Women Empowering Women.” She held over 100 women spellbound then enlisted them to stand together joining elbows, minds, and souls. The women were visibly moved and have told us repeatedly how much Gloria’s words and actions moved them to take the next steps in their personal and professional growth.