CULTURE
+ BELONGING
CONSULTING
Culture-Driven Solutions for Human-Centered Work
MISSION
To cultivate emotionally intelligent, culturally responsive, and communicatively healthy organizations by aligning strategy with empathy, building capacity for inclusive leadership, and embedding sustainable practices that foster trust, psychological safety, and a deep sense of belonging.
VISION
A future where organizations lead with emotional intelligence, prioritize cultural humility, and approach difference as an asset. Through intentional communication and values-driven leadership, we create workplaces where authenticity is honored, conflict becomes generative, and culture is the cornerstone of thriving.
PURPOSE
To redefine workplace culture by integrating principles of equity, mental wellness, interpersonal communication, and restorative practices-bridging the gap between organizational effectiveness and human connection. I aim to transform how teams relate, lead, and engage-within themselves and with one another.
PROMISE
To deliver evidence-based consulting, facilitation, and coaching that translates complexity into clarity-through trauma-informed dialogue, actionable frameworks, and skill-building experiences. I create space for reflection, growth, and sustainable change by helping individuals and institutions turn intention into impact.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
YMANIHAWKINS
MSW, ADC
FOUNDER,
DEEP-ish
Ymani Hawkins (she/her) is a dynamic culture and belonging strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of DEEP-ish, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations and individuals build trust, navigate conflict, and foster psychologically safe workplaces through emotionally intelligent leadership and equity-centered practices. She partners with both individuals and teams through coaching, workshops, and healing spaces to deepen interpersonal connection and embed belonging as a core driver of sustainable impact.
Faith, empathy, curiosity, and community are foundational values for Ymani. She lives these values daily by engaging deeply in cross-cultural healing spaces, facilitating restorative dialogues that honor diverse perspectives, and coaching with compassion and authenticity. Whether leading workshops, speaking on transformative leadership, or partnering with organizations to foster belonging, Ymani centers these principles- building trust, nurturing connection, and inspiring growth in every aspect of her work.
With a background in clinical social work and interpersonal communication, Ymani brings a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to her work. Her expertise spans higher education, nonprofits, media, and environmental justice sectors, where she facilitates transformative dialogue and emotional resilience through restorative practices.
As the Director of Culture and Employee Belonging at Dartmouth College, Ymani leads initiatives supporting over 700 employees across 18 departments. She designs strategies that embed inclusive leadership, foster accountability, and cultivate environments where dialogue, trust, and creative abrasion thrive.
Ymani holds a Master of Social Work from NYU and a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Kean University. Her global perspective has been enriched through intercultural studies in Athens, Greece, and ethnographic research in the Philippines. She is certified in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and trained extensively in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, psychological safety, and restorative conflict facilitation- expertise that informs her holistic approach.
At DEEP-ish, Ymani believes the first step toward belonging is facing what resists it. As James Baldwin reminds us, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” This conviction drives her commitment to guiding organizations and leaders through the often difficult but necessary work of creating truly inclusive, human-centered cultures.
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