Biography

Kelly McDonald is considered one of the nation’s top experts in diversity & inclusion, leadership, marketing, the customer experience and consumer trends.  She is the founder of McDonald Marketing, which has twice been named one of the “Top Ad Agencies in the U.S.” by Advertising Age magazine and ranked as one of the fastest-growing independently-owned companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine.

Her client experience includes brands such as Toyota, Chubb, NASA, Kimberly-Clark, Nike, Harley-Davidson, Miller-Coors, and Sherwin-Williams.

Kelly was named one of the “10 Most Booked Speakers in the U.S.” and ranked #1 on the list of “25 Hot Speakers” by Successful Meetings Magazine.

She has been featured on CNBC, in Forbes, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Fast Company, on CNNMoney.com and more.

She is the author of four bestselling books on diversity & inclusion, marketing, the customer experience and leadership.

Her latest, It’s Time to Talk about Race at Work:  Every Leader’s Guide to Making Progress on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion debuted as the #1 Bestselling Business Book in the U.S.

Kelly lives in Denver and when she’s not on the road speaking, she enjoys boxing (yes, boxing, not kickboxing) – and shopping for high heels.

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Testimonials

Kelly, I just wanted to take a moment to THANK YOU for your presentation at “Leader Things.” The feedback on your session was overwhelmingly favorable and our in‐house survey showed that you were, far and away, the “fan favorite” of the day.
– John Sexsmith, VP of Finance, FireKeepers Resort & Casino
Kelly’s understanding of customers today – and customers tomorrow – is impressive. She takes a complete look at business and helps business owners identify the necessary steps they need to take to keep their companies healthy and relevant to the different needs of diverse customers. That’s what is required for business survival today.
– Harry Hall, North America Sales Manager, DuPont Performance Coatings
Of all of the speakers I’ve ever booked, Kelly is the best… and I’ve been booking speakers since 1996. Definitely the highest‐rated speaker I’ve ever had. She was phenomenal, both in terms of content and delivery. And she had substance relevant to our audience. Kelly really knows her stuff. She delivered more than I thought was humanly possible.
– Kimberly Adams, Member Benefits Consultant, National Education Association (NEA)
Kelly’s knowledge about diverse market segments is unparalleled. We’ve brought her in time and again for corporate training, video and e‐learning, and numerous presentations to our agents in the U.S. We are deeply committed to reaching diverse customer segments and Kelly knows exactly how to help us do that.
– Iris Chavez‐Boland, Corporate Marketing Relations & Planning, State Farm Insurance
Kelly, your message was perfect for our audience and as usual, you had them engaged, and in the palm of your hand.
– Beth Brooks, President, Texas Society of Association Executives
Our employees and managers have heard Kelly speak on many occasions and she is always welcomed enthusiastically. Her ability to interact with an audience and infuse them with knowledge and insight make her a popular choice over other speakers who simply ‘lecture’.
– Karen Allen, Director of Advertising, Subaru of America

Booksby Kelly McDonald

It's Time to Talk about Race at Work

Crafting the Customer Experience for People Not Like You

How to Work With & Lead People Not Like You

How to Market & Sell to People Not Like You

Blog Posts

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Leadership Mindset to Start Your Day with Purpose

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Connect with Consumers on a Deeper Level with Shared Human Values

🤔 Are you still relying on traditional demographics to influence behavior? There's a game-changing approach...

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Mastering the Art of Self-Talk for Success

💭 Your internal monologue is the soundtrack of your life, the constant companion accompanying your...

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Networking Strategies to Improve Your Event’ Experiences

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