Yvette Simpson

Speaker/Trainer

Yvette is an energetic, authentic, and empathetic speaker and trainer. She connects with the audience by sharing her own personal journey to executive leadership, the wins and the losses, the advances and the setbacks that have navigated her through her own career. She then walks the audience through their own journeys, helping them to identify lessons and leave with a roadmap on how to thrive and excel against the toughest odds and most significant obstacles. A trusted advisor to some of the top executive leaders in the country, Yvette has been able to illuminate a path for them to success.

For over two decades, Yvette has advised and trained corporate leaders, startups, political and non-profit leaders, emerging leaders and professionals, and students. A lawyer, DEI Director, MBA, and executive strategist, Yvette knows how to help people and organizations work through difficult situations to WIN. As a trainer, she first helps participants identify the problem, then weaves together context and evidence with insight and inspiration then leaves them with an action plan, concrete steps they can take to change course and build a sustainable solution.

Yvette has trained and spoken at several events around the country, including: South by Southwest, TEDxCincinnati,  IAEE Women's Leadership Forum (WLF), CEIR Predict, and for organizations and companies like: TriHealth, LPK, Ida's Legacy, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, Urban League Urban Leaders Institute (ULI), Miami University, and the University of Cincinnati, just to name a few. Yvette continues to build trust with her audiences, helping them to make breakthroughs in the areas of leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, and human relations. 

Executive Strategist

Yvette Simpson is an executive strategist who has successfully advised companies and professionals in leadership, strategic goal setting, policy and business development. Her expertise in offering counsel to senior executives has been influential in helping them become exceptional leaders and achieve their strategic objectives. She is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Ulmer & Berne LLP.

As a leading expert in executive strategy, including: employment and labor law, organizational growth, DEI, and policy, Yvette provides inventive insight that provides functional direction for professionals. She uses learning theory and analysis to create a perfect union of communication and leadership skills to set actionable goals that keep companies and executives accountable for their actions to create a more productive environment.

Yvette’s analytical and organizational skills originate from her background in law and politics. Within her practice, she advises and assists clients in various employment law matters, including litigation, workforce policy development, corporate structure, HR consulting, training, and compliance. She also assists startup and small businesses with corporate formation and structure issues. Yvette also served as a member of Cincinnati City Council, where she focused on many initiatives including small business development.

Active in her local community, Yvette has served on several boards and commissions, including MORTAR, YWCA, and the Urban League. Nationally, Yvette served as a partner, strategist, advisor and coach for hundreds of political leaders across the country in her role as former CEO of Democracy for America.

Yvette was named YWCA Career Woman of Achievement, A Top 100 Influencer by the American City Business Journals, a Woman of Influence by Venue Magazine, A Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and a Woman Who Means Business by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Media Contributor

Yvette is a Contributor with ABC News and a Panelist with NPR. She has a regular seat at the Powerhouse Roundtable on This Week with George Stephanopolous, but has also appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, World News, and The Year. In 2019 and 2020, Yvette covered each of the Presidential Debates and Election Night, the January 6th Insurrection, as well as the 2021 Inauguration. She was featured in several ABC documentaries on Hulu and ABC News Digital, including “Trump: The Reckoning,” a documentary about the Trump presidency and “A Conversation with Black Women” 1-hour special about navigating the tumultuous year that was 2020: the pandemic and the importance of self-care, racial unrest, and working through grief and separation. On NPR, Yvette is a panelist for 1(A) and Here and Now, providing commentary on both political and world news.

As a commentator, Yvette provides an authentic voice for viewers and listeners as she is able to reflect and hold space for those who don’t understand or desire to wade into the challenging waters of politics. She is able to break down topics with ease and simplicity for all to understand. Yvette’s commentary, which she delivers effortlessly is often described as powerful, honest, inspirational, and passionate.

Yvette also regularly provides insight for print publications including New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, US News & World Report, Reuters, NBC News, Newsweek, The Hill, McClatchy, and Huffington Post to name a few.