Inclusive Excellence Powered by Dessert
Overview
Inclusive Excellence Powered by Dessert are chef-led, interactive sessions where teams explore core concepts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging — through the unexpected lens of food. Each mini dessert is designed to metaphorically represent a DEI theme, sparking authentic conversation, personal insight, and lasting behavioral shifts. This is not a dessert-making class or catering experience — it’s an immersive learning journey for your team’s palate and mindset.
Team Building
In these high-energy, collaborative experiences, participants move beyond traditional icebreakers to engage in facilitated, metaphor-rich activities that reveal dynamics around identity, bias, and communication. Each dessert acts as a bridge — breaking down silos, building trust, and encouraging deeper dialogue.
Inclusive Excellence Training:
Take your training to the next level with immersive DEI modules delivered through storytelling and sensory engagement. Core topics include:
- Microaggressions & Bias Awareness
- Cultural Differences & Communication Styles
- Psychological Safety & Belonging
- Equity vs. Equality
- Inclusive Leadership Principles
What It Is:
Our DEI Dessert Experiences use custom-designed desserts as metaphorical tools to help teams explore key topics such as bias, privilege, microaggressions, communication styles, and inclusion. These are not baking classes or catering events—they are immersive, sensory-driven learning experiences.
Who It’s For:
Ideal for HR leaders, DEI professionals, teams, C-suites, and cross-functional groups — our approach is industry agnostic and designed to break down silos and build trust.
Learning Outcomes & ROI
- Increased cultural awareness and inclusive behaviors
- Improved team cohesion and collaboration
- Greater empathy, accountability, and leadership alignment
Format Options
- 90-minute, half-day, or full-day sessions
- On-site and hybrid delivery
- Virtual delivery available depending on session structure and group size
- Fully customized based on audience, goals, allergies, dietary restrictions, and food sensitivities
Clarification:
This is not a dessert-making class or catering service. The mini desserts are tools—edible metaphors designed to spark transformative dialogue.
Speaking Engagements
Chef Maria Kemp also delivers impactful keynotes and panels designed to challenge, connect, and shift perspectives — all while using mini desserts as metaphorical teaching tools. These talks combine storytelling, inclusive leadership principles, and sensory surprise to bring DEI concepts to life in unforgettable ways.
Sample Topics Include:
Chef Maria blends storytelling and edible metaphors to explore:
- Equity: The Balancing Act Between Fairness and Access
- What Leadership Styles Say About Inclusion
- Cultural Differences: More Than What's on the Surface
- Can You Hear Me Now? Addressing Communication Style Conflicts
- Belonging: Building Psychological Safety with Every Bite
Perfect For:
- Keynotes at DEI conferences & corporate summits
- Leadership retreats & strategic offsites
- Supplier diversity and industry events
- HR & talent development trainings
- Fireside chats
Note: These sessions may include mini desserts as part of the experience. All desserts are customized based on allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions.
VIDEO PROJECTS
At the request of a managed healthcare organization, we created a video project incorporating historical context for each ingredient, tool, and food source used in the creation of a Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue, linking each to what would or would not have been available during slavery. This project was completed in June 2022.
Global consumer products leader, Kimberly-Clark collaborated with us to seamlessly integrate "Supplier Diversity 101" with dessert creation in an interactive e-learning video project. As part of their worldwide mandatory training, the client translated the final video into multiple languages. The project was completed in June 2023.
Ready to Work with Chef Maria?
Whether you're interested in a Inclusive Excellence Powered by Dessert or Caregiver Advocacy training, we’d love to support your team.
👉Schedule a Discovery Call or Contact Us to learn more about our Inclusive Excellence or Caregiver Advocacy sessions.
CLIENTS WHO HAVE TRUSTED US:
