Antonio A. Saunders

Antonio Saunders is an entrepreneur, educator, and speaker who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Experience Consulting Firm.35 With a background in communication from the University of Alabama, Saunders has established himself as a prominent figure in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting and organizational transformation.4

Professional Experience

Saunders has over 15 years of experience advising organizations across multiple sectors on race and equity to drive systems change.1 He works with chief executives and leadership teams in education, technology, and healthcare, applying a DEI lens to various issues including strategy, innovation, and change management.2

Expertise and Approach

Saunders is known for:

1. Developing an equity change process that has transformed organizational operating models, services, and performance by centering on the experiences of the global majority.1
2. Creating the HFD Model (humanity, freedom, and dreams) that uses paradigm shifts to redesign organizations for social change.1
3. Leveraging insights on generational trends and the future of work to help organizations digitize their user experience.1

Speaking and Thought Leadership

As a speaker, Saunders travels the world delivering keynotes, curating events, and coaching business leaders.1 He hosts The Promised Land podcast and uses storytelling traditions to engage audiences on topics that expand collective consciousness and imagination.1

Personal Background

Saunders' approach to his work is deeply influenced by his personal experiences. As a teenager, he became financially independent and the patriarch of his family, navigating through racial systems in the deep South.24 This background has shaped his perspective on creating change and addressing inequitable systems.14

Current Focus

In addition to his role as CEO of The Experience Consulting Firm, Saunders is currently a fellow with the Innovation for Equity in Leadership program.1 He is leveraging his experience to design and launch an organization that curates reclamation journeys for Black people to experience their full humanity, freedom, and dreams.1

Antonio Saunders is based in Atlanta, GA, and has over 500 connections on LinkedIn.3 His work continues to focus on challenging conventional beliefs about racial progress and proposing innovative approaches to fostering equity and social change in various organizational contexts.6