Michael DePass

Michael DePass, MBA

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Vice President of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

Current Role

Michael DePass is CCL’s Vice President of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and leads our global EDI practice. This role combines his extensive professional experience and passion for social change with his gifts for strategic leadership, innovative thinking, and business development.

Michael’s interest in group identities and issues related to justice and equity began with living in Liberia as a child and beginning to make sense of the American experience from outside of America. He has consistently taken direct action to support building the capacity of leaders and communities that have historically been undervalued in the US and abroad, as an activist, faith community member, project manager, leader, and educator.

Experience

Michael joined CCL in 2015 as a faculty member in our Societal Advancement group and became Director of our K–12 educational leadership practice in 2017. Under his leadership, the K–12 portfolio grew consistently in terms of lives touched and revenue. Michael led efforts to clarify customer personas, standardize core offerings, and create new digital learning options that were more cost-effective for nonprofit education clients and scalable for CCL.

Prior to joining CCL, Michael worked as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and held research and leadership roles in international development organizations. As a management consultant, he specialized in system-wide capability and leadership development to support large-scale network transformations.

Michael has experience in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, agricultural production, and human capital analytics, and has also worked on USAID-funded projects in Africa and the Caribbean. He served as a strategic advisor for the education division of a Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods company and for 3 startups that worked to scale human capital management software, coaching, and team development.

Educational Background

Michael received his MBA from Harvard University, a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Theology degree from Hope Bible College.

He and his wife, Rebekah, live in Greensboro, North Carolina, raising 4 children. Michael aspires to garden and loves to travel, read, listen to music, and eat spicy food.

Insights From Michael

Learn why senior DEI executives and Chief Diversity Officers have been struggling, and how you can take action to support and advance your organization's diversity initiatives.
The role of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executive is at a critical crossroads. Download this report to learn what we found are their challenges, experiences, and aspirations — and how best to support them.
Watch this webinar to learn the challenges facing and key tips for supporting Chief Diversity Officers and HR leaders with DEI roles or responsibilities.

Michael in the News

Supported by an Armfield Foundation grant, CCL is partnering with Surry County Schools to develop a first-of-its-kind, district-wide leadership development initiative.

Featured in Other Publications

Contributions from CCL Global Director, EDI Practice Michael DePass and CCL Senior Faculty Member Marin Burton, in Independent Sector.