Practice allyship.
Transform
culture.

Schedule Your Free Strategy Call

Award-winning consultant with 20+ years experience MSW + DEI credentials delivers corporate training programs that create measurable culture change.

An orange play icon on a light blue background with text offering "Live in-person, virtual, or on-demand learning in a judgment-free zone."
An orange flame icon on a light blue background with text mentioning "Backed by over 20 years of lived LGBTQ+ experience and expertise."
An orange folder icon on a light blue background with text stating "Custom LGBTQ+ resources to support your inclusion goals."

‍Upcoming Events for 2026

June 4
Beyond He and She: Pronouns and Validating Lived Experiences
Understanding why pronouns matter and what it actually feels like when your identity gets seen — or doesn't.
Get tickets
June 11
Allyship Is a Verb: Lessons from the LGBTQ+ Community
What allyship looks like in practice, not just in theory.
Get tickets
June 18
Neuroqueer: Supporting Our LGBTQ+ and Neurodivergent Youth
The overlap between LGBTQ+ identity and neurodivergence, and what young people need from the adults in their lives.
Get tickets

Pay what you can, starting at $10. All sessions recorded and available for 30 days.

Conference
August 20
Allyship Is a Verb Conference
A dedicated space for the people doing inclusion work inside organizations. Real scenarios, no hypotheticals. Come ready to learn and leave ready to act.
  • LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent allyship at work
  • Language, power, and everyday decision-making
  • Accountability and harm repair
  • When policies exist but people are still getting hurt
  • Navigating conflict without a script
Learn more and register

Pay what you can, starting at $47. All sessions recorded and available for 30 days.

Many well-intentioned organizations struggle with LGBTQ+ inclusion, leading to:

1. Talent drain to more inclusive competitors
2. Legal risks from uninformed HR decisions
3. Low morale among LGBTQ+ and allied employees who don't feel safe
4. Manager anxiety about saying the wrong thing
5. Performative policies that don't create real change
6. Missed opportunities to attract top diverse talent

Three Quick Outcomes

✅ Confident Leaders
✅ Higher Retention
✅ Measurable Inclusion

Are Your Leaders Walking on
Eggshells Around LGBTQ+ Topics?

As someone with deep LGBTQ+ lived experience AND the professional credentials to back it up, I've seen how fear and misinformation hold organizations back from creating truly inclusive cultures.

My approach bridges the gap between corporate needs and community wisdom. With 20+ years of professional training experience, an MSW degree, DEI certification, and recognition as an award-winning podcast host, I help organizations move from anxiety to authentic allyship.

Key Credentials

1
Master's in Social Work (USC 2014)
2
DEI Certificate (University of South Florida 2021)
3
20+ years LGBTQ+ community organizing & corporate training
4
Award-winning podcast host ("Allyship is a Verb" - 4x nominated, Rainbow Mic winner)
5
Former PFLAG board member, More Than Sex-Ed advisory board member, & LA Pride Outstanding Youth Leader

I Get It. Let's Build Authentic Inclusion Together.

Three Ways We Transform Your Workplace Culture

Reduce Legal Risk & HR Incidents
Stop walking on eggshells.

Our comprehensive training gives managers confident, consistent language for supporting all employees.

→ Feature: Interactive scenario-based workshops with real workplace situations

Attract & Retain Top Diverse Talent
Become the employer of choice.

Create an environment where LGBTQ+ and allied employees thrive, boosting innovation and retention.

→ Feature: Strategic policy assessments and leadership coaching programs

Build Confident Ally Champions at Every Level
Empower everyone to be part of the solution.

Develop internal advocates who sustain culture change long after training ends, from C-Suite and below.

→ Feature: Resources, creative programs, and ongoing support systems

How We Work Together

1.

Step 1: Book Your Free Strategy Call
We discuss your specific challenges and goals for your business

2.

Step 2: We Design Your Custom Program
Tailored training, consulting, and support based on your needs

3.

Step 3: Watch Your Culture Transform
Measurable results in employee satisfaction, retention, and inclusion metrics

Services Provided

Training sessions and resources for
businesses, nonprofits, groups, and adult learners.

Our Services

Core Training Features

  • Interactive workshop formats (1-8 hours)
  • Scenario-based learning with real workplace situations
  • Customized resource guides and toolkits
  • Manager-specific coaching sessions
  • Anonymous Q&A opportunities
  • Post-training assessment tools

Consulting & Assessment Features

  • Comprehensive policy review and recommendations
  • Leadership team coaching and strategy sessions
  • ERG development and support
  • Incident response protocols
  • Metrics and measurement frameworks
  • 90-day implementation support

Premium Add-Ons & Other Services

Zoom cloud recording (1-2 years)
Event planning and organizing
Panel and author moderation
Conference planning and organizing

Why Choose Charlie Ocean Over Your ERG Leaders?

ERG leaders bring invaluable lived experience to this work, and ideally they're being compensated for it. This isn't about replacing their voice. It's about making sure they're not also carrying the full weight of educating their organization.

What You Get With Charlie Ocean When ERG Leaders Do the Training
20+ years of facilitation experience Deep lived experience, but facilitation is a separate skill set
Trained to handle disclosures, pushback, and difficult room dynamics May not have training for high-stakes facilitation moments
No reporting relationships with your employees Colleagues and managers in the room can create unspoken pressure on all sides
A neutral third party creates more psychological safety for honest questions Employees may self-censor when the trainer is also a colleague whose feelings they don't want to hurt
Dedicated bandwidth for this work ERG leadership is already a second job on top of their actual role
Reduces risk of ERG burnout ERG burnout is widely reported, and many organizations are already struggling to replace leaders
Emotional labor stays where it belongs Asking community members to educate their colleagues adds to an already heavy load
Brings outside perspective that's harder to dismiss Internal advocates are sometimes seen as having a personal stake, not expertise
ERG leaders can focus on community and connection Training delivery pulls them away from the work only they can do
Subject matter expertise built through training, research, and practice Belonging to a community is meaningful, but it doesn't automatically mean knowing how to teach about it

 FAQs

  • A: This is exactly why our approach works. We start with shared values and business outcomes, human check-ins, and tools. Our interactive methodology builds bridges, not walls.

  • A: We've worked with organizations ranging from 5 to 50,000+ employees across industries including tech, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Our approach scales to any organization size.

  • Not at all. Some of our best results come from organizations just starting their inclusion journey. We meet you where you are and help you move forward.

  • A: Human connection and real conversation. Our interactive approach builds actual skills and confidence, not just compliance checkboxes.

  • A: We'll provide a detailed proposal after understanding your specific needs and goals.

Ready to Transform Your Workplace Culture?

⚠️ Stop letting fear hold your organization back from authentic inclusion. ⚠️

Book a complimentary 30-minute strategy call to discuss your specific challenges and discover how we can help you create a workplace where everyone thrives.