08.04.25

Changing the World, One Act of Civility at a Time: Meet Our 2025 IIDA Leaders Breakfast Keynote Speaker, Shola Richards

We are thrilled to announce that Shola Richards, CEO and Founder of Go Together Global®, will be our keynote speaker for the 2025 IIDA Leaders Breakfast. A transformative force for workplace culture and a global advocate for kindness, Shola brings a message that is not only powerful but deeply necessary.

Shola is the author of the best-selling book, Civil Unity: The Radical Path to Transform Our Discourse, Our Lives and Our World, a timely and inspiring guide to restore humanity in how we engage with one another at work, at home, and in society. At the heart of his mission is a simple but revolutionary idea: we can change the world by changing how we treat each other.

Through Go Together Global®, Shola is leading a worldwide movement to eliminate bullying and incivility from the workplace. His work has been featured everywhere from the Today Show to Forbes, Black Enterprise, Business Insider Australia, and Complete Wellbeing India. He’s even earned the nickname “Brother Teresa” for his relentless pursuit of a more compassionate world.

Shola’s message isn’t just resonating in boardrooms; it’s reaching the highest levels of government. In September 2021, he was invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives, offering expert recommendations on how to bring civility back to Congress (and yes, he’s quick to admit, they could definitely use a refresher course 😁).

Whether he’s inspiring Fortune 500 companies, leading healthcare organizations, energizing top universities, or stepping onto the TEDx stage, Shola brings authenticity, heart, and a call to action that stays with you long after the applause fades.

A proud father, husband, identical twin, and self-declared “kindness extremist”, Shola’s passion for people is as genuine as it gets. He’s made it his life’s work to ensure that dignity and respect aren’t just aspirations, they’re expectations.

Join us at the 2025 IIDA Leaders Breakfast,  Friday September 26 from 8:00am at Sheraton at the Bloc, 711 S. Hope St. Los Angeles.

Get tickets HERE as we welcome Shola Richards to the stage for an unforgettable morning of inspiration, leadership, and connection. Prepare to be moved, challenged, and empowered to lead with kindness, because the future of design (and the workplace) depends on it.

Let’s go together. Let’s lead with civility.