PubliC Speaker, Coach, and Entrepreneur
From Founder to Ecosystem Architect: Driving Inclusive Innovation
Yulkendy's Story
Hi! ¡Hola! My name is Yulkendy Darlene Valdez Valdez Ortiz Hermoso. I am unapologetically a patchwork of cultures - Afro-Latina with Caribbean roots in the Dominican Republic, a Midwesterner from St. Louis, Missouri, and now a proud New Yorker based out of Brooklyn.
Since my time in college, I have committed to engaging in meaningful projects that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across the private and public sectors. I center transparency, humility, and vulnerability in my approach to working with collaborators and clients.
I am a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, BostInno 50 on Fire, Latino 30 Under 30 by El Mundo, Latinx Hispanic Exceptional Leader by theboardiQ, a L'ATTITUDE Ventures Game Changer, and a top Millennial Leader by Get Konnected. Media outlets including NPR, USA Today, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Vice Impact, Boston Globe have featured me since I was 14 participating in the National Spelling Bee after speaking English for only two years.
I have traveled to 40+ countries for work and for fun. You can find me hiking, biking, or checking out the new coffee/restaurant or cocktail bar in town.
You can also find my talk on TED.com!
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in partnership with AnitaB.org. You can find the entire playlist here.
New York AI Summit at Javits Center
Keynote Presentation at the Impact Summit at Columbia University. You can check out Part 2 here.
Too Ambitious - LinkedIn Live with Trish Lindo
Humble + Hungry - Conversation with Camelback Ventures
Five Things I Learned as A Twenty-Something Founder
An Interview by Doug Noll
Published in Authority Magazine
Transparency, Humility, and Vulnerability
Learn more about how I do business .
Published in GoSolo by Subkit
Services
Book me for a meeting, and let's have a chat.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consulting
No more checking the box. It's time to redesign systems to become more fair and just.
- Workplace assessments including surveys, focus groups, and interviews
- 360 racial equity audits including process and document/artifacts review
Program Design and Facilitation
My approach to training and experiences is fun, interactive, and practical.
- Custom diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops (virtual and in-person)
- Bite-sized courses delivered via messaging (Whatsapp, SMS, or Facebook Messenger)
- Tailored educational sessions on entrepreneurship, leadership, and soft skills
Public Speaking
When I speak, I do not only bring my story but the narratives of resilient and powerful communities that deserve to be heard.
- Keynotes
- Interactive panels
- Custom talks (virtual and in-person)
Curated Travel Experiences
Having a global mindset is key to being a culturally competent leader. Travel can be a powerful tool for personal discovery.
- Staff and leadership retreats
- International programs for youth development (sponsorships available)
- Immersive experiences for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and female founders (sponsorships available)
