About Us
Wonders Coaching & Consulting is a firm operating in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) space. We are located on the unceded and unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, in Ottawa, Ontario.
Our Mission
We focus on diversity, equity and inclusion while aiming to coach, consult, inspire, and equip individuals to thrive in their professional lives and organizations to address equity challenges so that they shine among them like stars in the sky.
Our Story
Our journey in the DEI space spans years. After a decade of operating in the DEI space at so many levels (specialist, management, leadership, board), I took a step back and reflected on lessons learned. There were many, but three stood out:
#1 – High-Profile Pledges
There are organizations to whom DEI is more than a buzzword. They truly want to make structural changes but struggle to make meaningful changes and end up losing trust. One of the key reasons in our observation is the pressure they’ve put on themselves with high-profile pledges/ big lofty statements raising expectations and their inability to deliver on them. Read Companies Face a Trust Gap on Efforts to Fight Racism – Bloomberg.
#2 – To racialized staff: You are in. now fix it!
Organizations hire racialized leaders and practitioners to fix their DEI issues. Great idea and how it should be, in principle. However, the unrealistic expectation (to turn things around in record time) and a lack of resources (financial and human) often lead to failure.
According to a 2022 survey by Edelman, only 18% of employees trust Heads of DEI. This statistic summarizes the impossible burden put on DEI practitioners in leadership roles and the rising tide of employee mistrust and disengagement in response to window-dressing DEI efforts.
As a result, DEI leaders and practitioners are pushed to the edge. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome starts to creep in, with distress and burnout knocking at the door. Meanwhile, organizations are blissfully unaware and provide zero culturally appropriate support.
#3 – What are racialized employees to do meanwhile…
While organizations are busy celebrating their latest DEI-related policies, strategies, or programs… racialized employees are struggling because they see the very little impact (if any) of these on their careers (still not getting promoted) or their daily lives (still facing micro-aggressions, racism, biases and gaslighting). There’s a strong need for coaching employees on what to do while organizations struggle with their goals in terms of diversity and inclusion.
We launched Wonders Coaching & Consulting to tackle these three specific issues. You are at the right place, IF:
- You are an organization that is looking to make significant and meaningful changes. Let us help you sort out between meaningful work with real impact vs. quick, flashy wins with no value. We will not accept any gimmick work.
- You are a racialized DEI practitioner/leader who wants to contribute to DEI work but not to the detriment of your life or career. It is possible!
- You are a racialized person who wants to thrive in your career while organizations figure it out. It is achievable!
We can only help if we know that you are looking for someone like us to come alongside you. Take the first step and invest in your people and/or yourself.
About the CEO
Jephtée Elysée, CEO of Wonders Coaching & Consulting, holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Innovation Leadership. She is an executive in the non-profit sector, a Certified Executive Coach, Certified Career Coach, and Certified Life Coach.
She is a strategic leader with proven success in blending political and business acumen to ideate and spearhead top-shelf strategies driving sustainable benefits for both organizations and communities. She is a relationship builder developing key partnerships, a passion for inspiring highly diverse teams and mobilizing cross-functional groups around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, cultures of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Our Commitment
Whether you use our coaching services as an individual, or our consulting services as an organization, our commitment to you is simple. Once our diversity, equity and inclusion collaboration is done, you will attest that our motto is true, meaning: “YOU will shine among them like stars in the sky.”
A Few Under Our Belts
We know that there is no lack of coaches and consultants out there, so we will let our work speak for itself.
Engagement / Training
- Developed the City of Ottawa’s first Anti-Racism Advisory.
- Engaged 1,000+ stakeholders in the development of various strategies on behalf of the City of Ottawa.
- Developed & directed the Long-Term Care Stakeholder Engagement Plan involving 250+ stakeholders to address the Ministry’s order.
- Implemented Community Conversation Forums on behalf of the City of Ottawa, achieving a 96% satisfaction rate.
- Led the Equity & Inclusion Lens Corporate Training and Train the Trainer Program at the City of Ottawa for 1,000+ staff and 20+ trainers, with 90% satisfaction.
- Led several leadership sessions Mindtrust Leadership Development Program (MLDP) and Youth Leadership Program (YLP).
Policy/Strategies
- Developed the City of Ottawa’s first Immigration Strategy.
- Provided teams with strategic guidance, leadership, and motivation for the successful development and implementation of the City of Ottawa’s first Women and Gender Equity Strategy, the Diversity & Inclusion Corporate Plan, and the Older Adult Plan.
- Ideated and implemented the City’s first Rural Economic Development Strategy.
- Developed the concept and successfully advocated for the City’s Employees Affinity Groups program.
Leadership & Contribution
- Council Vice-Chair of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP). Contributed to the development of the Ottawa Immigration Strategy (OIS).
- Advisory Group Member of the Diverse Voices for Change (DVC). Supported the publication of DIVERSE VOICES: Tools and Practices to Support all Women.
- Contributed to the publication of A Guide for Municipalities – Advancing Equity and Inclusion.
Careers
We are always looking for consultants and coaches to collaborate on projects. If interested in joining forces, drop us an email.