Ivy Planning Group + NBMBAA 2.0 Advisory Partnership

Ivy Planning Group is proud to announce a strategic advisory partnership powering measurable progress in the workforce, workplace, and marketplace.

The National Black MBA Association® is making its most significant transformation in 55 years — shifting from a singular annual event to a year-round engine of leadership growth, corporate advisory, and economic power. Through the NBMBAA 2.0 Pivot, the Association is redefining what it means to invest in underrepresented talent and the businesses that depend on them.

Why This Partnership Matters

Organizations face a unique challenge: the business need for diverse leadership and market alignment is accelerating, while public DEI commitments face scrutiny. Leaders don’t need slogans — they need trusted guidance that protects reputation, strengthens talent pipelines, and proves ROI. That’s where Ivy and NBMBAA create value, helping organizations achieve:

Talent competitiveness & pipeline strength
Culture resilience & leader accountability
Consumer trust & brand reputation
Risk mitigation & regulatory alignment

“Together, we’re shaping the future of leadership.”

What Ivy Brings

Ivy Planning Group is a 35-year strategy, consulting, training, and coaching firm trusted by some of the world’s most recognized organizations to advise on their most sensitive talent and culture priorities. We partner directly with executives to align purpose with performance — and ensure progress can be measured, communicated, and sustained.

Corporate sponsors choose Ivy when they need:

Executive advisory that drives alignment
Clear decisions, confident leadership, and readiness at the top
Culture diagnostics that reveal what’s real
Honest insight and accountability so change takes root
Leadership development that accelerates advancement
Cultivating the next generation of high-impact leaders
Workforce and marketplace strategy that drives success
Where talent priorities, consumer expectations, and business growth meet
Strategic communication and change support
Protecting trust while navigating pressure, politics, and scrutiny

When the stakes are high, Ivy brings the clarity, credibility, and capability leaders need to move from DEI intent to business advantage.

What NBMBAA Partners Gain

Whether refining language, pressure-testing strategy, or demonstrating progress in a rapidly shifting environment, Ivy + NBMBAA ensure partners protect what matters most: talent, reputation, innovation, and performance. Our advisory aligns to the real priorities driving business results:

Workforce — A stronger, more resilient leadership pipeline

Organizations compete — and win — through the quality of their talent. We help partners:

• Strengthen talent strategy aligned to business growth
• Broaden access to top talent
• Equip executives to lead inclusively with confidence

✅ Outcome: A leadership bench prepared for the future — not just the now.

Workplace — Culture that retains top talent and attracts more

People don’t stay because they’re hired — they stay because they’re valued. We help partners:

• Listen deeply to the lived experiences of their workforce
• Hold leaders accountable for behaviors and results that build trust and fairness
• Elevate ERGs/BRGs as innovation and influence engines

✅ Outcome: A workplace where the talent you crave chooses to grow — not leave.

Marketplace — Brand trust that earns loyalty and unlocks new growth

Consumers are watching what companies do — and
don’t — stand for. We help partners:

• Align brand and consumer expectations with authenticity
• Navigate reputational and regulatory pressure with confidence
• Innovate with diverse markets to drive relevance and revenue

✅ Outcome: A reputation that builds business — not crisis response plans.

Advisory Services

As an advisory partner to NBMBAA®, Ivy helps bring the 2.0 vision to life — building a stronger, more connected ecosystem of diverse talent and employers to strengthen community impact. We advise on the strategies, structures, and capabilities required to move from intent to measurable outcomes.

Where Ivy supports the 2.0 transformation:

Urgency of Now — Communications & positioning; all‑employee town halls; listening sessions; addressing myths & backlash.
Alignment & Executive Commitment — Change readiness (7C’s), executive briefings, leader bootcamps.
Roadmap Design — Assessments, surveys, interviews, focus groups, data analysis, strategy & action planning.
Implementation — Trainings, workshops, and leadership development; councils, ERGs/BRGs; coaching tied to performance.
Sustainability — Measurement dashboards; RACI; monitoring & adjustments; on‑call advisory.

Example Advisory Offerings

Partner Convenings & Roundtables
Consumer & Community Listening Sessions
“Word on the Street” Focus Groups
Crisis Preparedness & Response Playbooks
Cross‑Sponsor Benchmarking & Dashboards
Culture Diagnostics & Audits
Inclusive Innovation Labs
Inclusive Talent Acquisition & Retention
Diverse Leadership Pipeline Development
Marketplace Perception Analysis

Who We Serve

We work with Fortune 1000 corporations, global professional services leaders, financial institutions, technology, consumer goods, healthcare, energy, and more. These organizations are:

Talent‑driven — scaling diverse leadership pipelines
Brand‑conscious — committed to reputational excellence
Future‑focused — competing globally and locally
DEI‑invested — even amid external pressure

Getting Started

Let’s Build What’s Next — Together!

Request a confidential briefing on Advisory Services and explore how Ivy can help you navigate today’s environment while building durable advantage.

Schedule a Conversation