Every leader encounters failure—but the most effective leaders learn how to harness it for growth.

Join the Richmond Chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition and the L2L Leadership Institute for an L2L Executive Mastermind Session focused on transforming failure into a force for innovation and resilience.

In this dynamic session, we’ll view a compelling presentation by Amy C. Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School. A leading expert on psychological safety, teaming, and leadership, Edmondson challenges conventional views of failure and shows how the smartest teams learn, adapt, and thrive through it.

This is more than a conversation about recovery—it’s a framework for failing smarter.

Together, we’ll explore:

• The difference between blameworthy and praiseworthy failure
• Why most organizations get failure wrong—and what it’s costing them
• How to cultivate team cultures of trust, learning, and intelligent risk-taking

Following the video, facilitators Adrienne P. Whitaker and Ditu Kasuyi will guide interactive breakout discussions to help you reflect, strategize, and lead with renewed purpose and courage.

Session Details:

📅 Date: Friday, May 2nd

⏰ Time: 7:45 AM EST

📍 Location: Online

You’re already bold enough to lead.

Now it’s time to lead bold enough to fail forward—with purpose.

Resources help support the Mark I Youth Leadership Program and UFSC Richmond Chapter activities.

Who is Amy C. Edmondson?

Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society.

Edmondson has been recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers since 2011, and most recently was ranked #1 in 2021 and 2023; she also received that organization’s Breakthrough Idea Award in 2019, and Talent Award in 2017. She studies teaming, psychological safety, and organizational learning, and her articles have been published in numerous academic and management outlets, including Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Harvard Business Review and California Management Review. Her 2019 book, The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth (Wiley), has been translated into 15 languages. Edmondson’s latest book, Right Kind of Wrong (Atria), builds on her prior work on psychological safety and teaming to provide a framework for thinking about, discussing, and practicing the science of failing well. First published in the US and in the UK (Penguin) in September, 2023, the book is due to be translated into 24 additional languages, and was selected for the Financial Times and Schroders Best Business Book of the Year award.

Adrienne Whitaker & Ditu Kasuyi

Adrienne Whitaker has over 15 years experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in various leadership roles working in the public, private, and non profit sectors. She is also a certified sales coach and change manager with extensive executive level experience in sales & marketing.

Ditu Kasuyi has over 15 years experience is professional and organizational development. He is a certified personal coach with global experience working with companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

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Getting to Know Adrienne Whitaker

She serves as the DEI Director of a statewide agency. She formerly was a senior business development executive at SOAR365 where she was responsible for advocating and providing employment for men and women with disabilities by securing contracts with companies, non-profits as well as local, state and federal government agencies including military base contracts to provide employment opportunities.

She served as the Vice President of Philanthropy & Marketing at Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, an agency that provides transitional living services, specialized education, and therapeutic resources to youth with emotional and behavioral health concerns, as well as housing for LGBTQ young adults who age out of the foster care system.

Adrienne has served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement & External Affairs at Virginia State University, a historically black college/university (HBCU) with over 5,000 students and. 850 employees. It is America's first fully state-assisted, four-year institution of higher learning for black students.

Adrienne was Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at SunTrust Bank., where she was also responsible for diversity initiatives, community outreach, corporate social responsibility, and overall sales results in a territory with over 3500 employees. In this capacity, she was also the region’s chief marketing officer and served as the chief of staff to the regional president/CEO. During her tenure at SunTrust, she spent 8 years as a sales and sales management coach to the

Adrienne currently serves on the advisory board of C&F Bank, and she was appointed by City Council to the Richmond Minority Business Enterprise & Emerging Small Business Advisory Board. She also serves on the board of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) Foundation and on the corporate advisory board. Adrienne serves on the board of directors of Homeward and Virginia Repertory Theater, where she is on the executive committee as the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Officer. She was previously the National Vice President for UFSC.

Adrienne obtained her bachelor’s of arts degree from William and Mary. She is a graduate of a leadership program at University of Richmond and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leaders at University of Virginia. She obtained her certification in diversity, equity, and inclusion from Cornell University. She also received a leadership certification from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Adrienne has received additional certifications in the following areas:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Purdue University, Cornell University, AHIR, and Catalyst)
• Change Management (Cannon Financial Institute)
• Sales Management (Richardson)
• Sales Coaching (Cohen Brown Group)
• Certified Professional in Financial Services -CPFS (The American College of Financial Services)
• Professional Fundraising (Boston University)

Adrienne is a third generation Bahamian-American. Growing up in an Air Force family allowed her to live in several places throughout the United States and be exposed to individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. Adrienne currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with family ties primarily in Miami, Florida; New Brunswick, New Jersey; and the Bahamas. Adrienne is very proud of her large, very diverse, multi-cultural family. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links,
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Getting to Know Ditu Kasuyi

Ditu Kasuyi is the President and CEO of Kasuyi and Associates, LLC, a leadership coaching firm in Richmond, Virginia. The company specializes in educating, motivating, and empowering professionals to elevate their leadership skills to reach their goals faster. By increasing their ability to focus on the behaviors that produce extraordinary results, his clients solve complex problems more effectively, leading to improved performance and higher revenues.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ditu saw first-hand the power of inspirational leadership through his mother's journey to bring her family to the United States. From learning a new language to earning her PhD, her passion for empowering women through education and science encouraged Ditu to follow the clarion call. He has dedicated his life to changing the world through exceptional leadership coaching.

As a certified personal coach, national award-winning motivational speaker, and international trainer, Ditu brings his passion for inspirational speaking and commitment to leadership growth to every client, helping them reach their untapped potential.​

Ditu is certified in the John C. Maxwell and Franklin Covey Coaching methodologies, as well as the Prosci Change Management Methodology. He uses these techniques to help his clients successfully master renowned programs such as:

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth

Throughout his extensive international travel, he has led team workshops, presented coaching sessions, and delivered motivational speeches in Korea, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, and across the United States. His clientele list spans from individuals to national and government organizations,

A longtime member of the financial community, where he not only built the foundation of his business expertise but also rose to top management, Ditu is a current member of the Corporate Advisory Board of Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC), a past President of the Corporate Advisory Board of UFSC, and a past National President of UFSC. He was the recipient of both the UFSC President's Award and their National Orator of the Year award.

Ditu believes in paying it forward and regularly gives back. In recognition for his service to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he was Eastern Region Brother of the Year. He also teaches Sunday school and volunteers for both the Boys Scouts of America and the Girls Scouts of America.

Ditu earned his Master of Business Administration from Averett University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Saint Paul's College. When he's not engaging with clients or enrichening his spirit, he spends time with his beautiful wife, Melanie Lee, their active son, Ditu II and their beautiful daughter, Princess Norma Musau.

Our Leadership Book club Suggestions:

Best Books on Leadership and Accountability

• QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability in Work and in Life by John G. Miller, avid L. Levin
• Accountability Leadership: How Great Leaders Build a High Performance Culture of Accountability and Responsibility by Di Worrall
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. ...
• Dare to Lead: Brave Work.

Are you looking for a new career opportunity?

L2L Leadership Institute has partnered with the Urban Financial Services Coalition Career Center. Upload your resume for FREE so recruiters seeking ideal senior and mid-level professionals can match you to your next dream career opportunity. The UFSC Career Center has one of the most significant database of diverse candidates in the United States.

Whether you are a jobseeker or a hiring manager, the UFSC Career Center connects our diverse candidates from the information technology, finance, compliance, human resources, financial services, and other professional industries, to those looking for top tier talent throughout the United States.

Visit today: http://ufscnet.com/career-center/

Upcoming Sessions/Schedule