MEET THE TEAM

Farah is an award-winning diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and coach with over fifteen years in social impact work. Her expertise spans interfaith relations and peace dialogues, talent acquisition, and cultural transformation. She has developed and delivered dozens of effective trainings and workshops for both non-profit and private sector organizations on topics including unconscious bias, inclusive recruitment, cultural sensitivity, empathic leadership, and countering stereotypes. 

Prior to founding Origins Consulting, Farah led diversity and inclusion for a high-growth $1.3B portfolio company with five brands. Under her leadership, the firm received its first related accolade, being named Newsweek America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity-2023. During her tenure, she developed the content and facilitated listening sessions and empathy circles in times of crises including the racial injustices of 2021 (George Floyd to Brianna Taylor), Uvalde School Shootings, Buffalo New York Racially Motivated Shootings, Asian Hate Crimes of Atlanta, Colorado LGBTQ Hate Crimes, and the Ukraine War. 

Farah sits on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, a non-partisan and non-profit organization dedicated to advancing social, racial, and economic justice through Virginia's policies. She is also a member of the National Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, and Board Member for AACVA, a social welfare and community organization for Afghan refugees. Through her social impact work, Farah has delivered workshops for non-profit organizations like ReEstablish Richmond, a refugee resettlement organization, and DAANA, a physician-led charity network. 

Farah completed her bachelor’s in political science from the Honors College at Virginia Commonwealth University as well as post-graduate studies in Organization Development & Change at Penn State which includes large and small group facilitation and conducting needs assessments. She has also completed training in Structural Racism (The Groundwater Approach) and Workplace Diversity (ESSEC Business School).  Farah is fluent in Dari/Farsi and conversational in Arabic, Pashtu, and Spanish.

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Rasha Kutty is the Chief Facilitator and Instructional Designer for curriculum surrounding empathy, inclusive leadership, and more.

Rasha holds masters degrees in Management and in Psychology. She is certified in Instructional Design, Empathic InterVision Facilitation and Empathy Circle Facilitation.

In addition to her work with Origins, Rasha is the Founder of Empathy Matters Private Limited - the flagship initiative of which is The Empathy University®.

She has previously worked in the corporate sector with organizations and clients including Yahoo, McGraw Hill, Pearson, Apple, Defence Research & Development 

Organisation of India, Cancer Association of South Africa, University of Wollongong in Dubai and Heriot-Watt University. 

Rasha is also actively involved in social causes, is an organizational culture change consultant, and has associated with some of the best educational pioneers in the world such as TEDx and Technovation.

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Dr. Ryder has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and strategic leader. Her expertise has been sought by institutions such as Harvard University, University of Southern California, UCLA, Brown University, Simmons University, and the University of Rhode Island. She consults regularly with clients to ensure informed and future-thinking decision making in all areas of their organizations. She also teaches regularly in the areas of Women’s & Gender Studies and U.S. History. She has contributed to media outlets such as WGBH Boston, MSNBC, The New York Times, and HuffPost. She is the editor (with Marcia A. Dawkins, Ph.D.) of Mixed Race 3.0: Risk and Reward in the Digital Age (Annenberg Press, 2015). She serves on the Board of Advisors for School One and for Project Open Door (RISD).

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Dalia is a globally recognized scholar on Islamophobia and co-author of the groundbreaking book Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think. As the former Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, she spearheaded the analysis of surveys of Muslim communities worldwide. Her publication, co-authored with John Esposito, draws from the largest modern global study of Muslims—spanning six years of research and over 50,000 interviews across 35+ Muslim-majority countries.

In 2009, Dalia was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She later testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, offering insights into U.S. engagement with Muslim communities.

As the former Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), Dalia led innovative research initiatives and thought leadership programs focused on American Muslims. Her 2016 TED Talk, What It’s Like to Be Muslim in America, was named one of the top TED talks of the year. Dalia is also the co-host, with Imam Magid, of the 'Quran Conversations' podcast. A sought-after expert, Dalia frequently appears in global media and international forums, sharing her research and perspectives on Islamophobia, Muslim communities, and interfaith dialogue. 

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Judy is a diversity practitioner with 25 years’ experience in a wide range of industries, including health care, higher education, business, government, and the nonprofit sector. She has designed and conducted hundreds of workshops on diversity and inclusion, prevention of discrimination and harassment at work and school, effective communication, and culturally competent patient care. 

Judy facilitates strategic planning retreats for diversity initiatives and organizational change, and provides frequent continuing education seminars on diversity for professionals in human resources, health care, and social work.

From 2005-2006 and 2010-2013, Judy served as an internal consultant, and then as 

Diversity/EEO Coordinator, at Lifespan, a major academic healthcare system and the largest employer in RI. In that capacity, she provided training on diversity and cultural competency, oversaw implementation of five affirmative action plans, helped promote language access for limited English-proficient patients, supervised several employee resource groups, and produced a monthly diversity newsletter.

A graduate of Brown University (BA in Religious Studies, minor in Spanish) and Harvard Law School, Judy received additional training through the Anti-Defamation League’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute, the National MultiCultural Institute (NMCI), National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Public Conversations Project (PCP), National Conference of Christians & Jews (NCCJ), and Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).

Prior to starting her consulting business, Judy practiced law for 10 years on behalf of culturally diverse, low income clients in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She performed, recorded and toured for seven years with the Boston-based women’s world music ensemble, Libana, and currently sings with the RPM Voices of RI, a multi-racial, interfaith, cross-class community gospel choir. She is co-founder of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom – RI, a Muslim-Jewish women’s group that works to build bridges and confront bias. 

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Roberta brings decades of expertise in effective communications, and leadership development. She has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at the Center for Creative Leadership and taught communications and journalism at Princeton, Tufts, and Columbia Universities. 

As an Emmy Award-winning journalist, Roberta's career has been marked by her ability to help leaders become more compelling communicators who can expand their influence, motivate stakeholders, and develop a confident leadership style. As a leadership consultant, she has worked with public and private sector clients, delivering custom workshops and coaching sessions. Her experience spans senior production roles at VPM News (PBS) in Virginia and in network news at ABC, CBS, and NBC in New York.

Her diverse skill set includes coaching leaders in effective messaging, delivering leadership development programs, and providing strategic communications consulting. She is also a dynamic public speaker known for energizing audiences in boardrooms, classrooms, and meetings.

Roberta holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She was selected for the Knight Professional Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University.

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Sam is a highly experienced educator and advocate in the Jewish community, dedicated to fighting for the rights and well-being of his people for over 20 years. 

As the co-creator of La'ad Canada's renowned CARE Project, a widely recognized DEI training program utilized by public service organizations and first responders across Canada and the United States, Sam has played a pivotal role in promoting diversity and inclusivity. With his expertise as a media spokesperson, he has skillfully navigated challenging interviews and debates surrounding antisemitism and Jewish life in North America, while emphasizing the importance of education and dialogue to foster positive relationships. Sam resides in the Greater Toronto Area with his wife and five children, and he is committed to addressing critical issues such as rising antisemitism and preserving Jewish identity. 

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Belle Halpern is an executive coach and facilitator with over 30 years of experience in leadership presence, communication, and emotional intelligence. Featured in the New York Times, Fast Company, the Boston Globe, and CNBC, she is the co-author of Leadership Presence: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate, and Inspire (Penguin/Putnam Publishing).

Prior to Origins, Belle co-founded and sold The Ariel Group, an executive training firm that served major organizations like American Express, Boston Consulting Group, and General Electric. She is the founder/board member of Inspiring Educators, a nonprofit dedicated to improving student outcomes in underserved communities. Her clients in education have included Boston Public Schools, Teach For America, Achievement First, and Uncommon Schools.  She is also a member of the Sisterhood for Salaam Shalom, a Muslim-Jewish women's group that works to build bridges and confront bias. 

A Harvard graduate and professional singer, Belle performs globally with the "What the World Needs Now: Interfaith Coalition Singers."  Belle is a lay leader for Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, MA, and Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, MA.

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Jyl Feliciano, a prominent figure in the tech industry, holds the esteemed position of Global Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) at a leading Tech Company. Additionally, she is the visionary behind the DEI Coaching Factory, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at coaching top-level executives on the crucial role of DEI within their organizations.

As the founder of the DEI Coaching Factory, Jyl is dedicated to empowering executives by equipping them with the necessary language, empathy, and compassion to comprehend and engage with the complexities of DEI. She guides them in understanding this vital topic on a personal level and then assists them in effectively translating those insights into their unique leadership styles.

Jyl Feliciano's exceptional expertise and transformative work in the field of DEI have solidified her reputation as a trailblazer and advocate for inclusive and equitable practices within the tech sector and beyond. 

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Samia is a learning and development professional who facilitates hands-on training and workshops in the areas of empathy, cultural competency, diversity recruitment and more. With a Master of Teaching, Samia's early career began in childhood education where she taught math and reading for at-risk student populations.  She later launched her own consulting firm, Think and Teach, where she consistently provided organizations with customized scripts and learning plans while executing research based best practices.

Samia is certified in social and emotional learning and sustainability and completed post-graduate certification in Educational Leadership.  She has been a Guest Contributor to The New York Times and Educational Consultant on MSNBC.  

Samia has a passion for Childhood Cancer advocacy work and is currently serving on the Medical Advisory Board of A Moment of Magic.  

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Josh holds a Masters Degree in School Psychology and offers more than 20 years of experience in training and consulting.  He has worked in design thinking for leading tech firms, providing critical insight and guidance to inclusive and empathic product development. 

Josh's work and life experiences as a Deaf person, led him to create That Deaf Spot, an organization dedicated to advancing equity for the Deaf community.  Josh is also a sought after keynote speaker, educating organizational leaders and educators about the Deaf community and universal design. He lives in Knoxville, TN where he enjoys chess and watching his daughter compete in archery. 

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Lindsey is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) strategist with 10 years of experience in Human Resources and the Tech Industry. She has developed and implemented DE&I programs and initiatives, including trainings, recruiting, talent outreach strategies, road mapping, and vision setting.

She began her career in HR as a generalist and then a recruiter. She quickly realized her passion for DE&I and transitioned into a role as a DE&I strategist. In this role, she has helped companies create more inclusive and equitable workplaces for all employees.

Lindsey is a highly skilled and experienced DE&I strategist. She is known for her ability to develop and implement effective DE&I programs and initiatives that meet the specific needs of each organization. She is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating workplaces where everyone feels welcome and valued.

Lindsey is a graduate of Spelman College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and staying active. 

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Diya Khanna is a Global Diversity Equity Inclusion speaker, facilitator, and consultant with 20 years of experience in profit, non-profit, and tech. She worked at Amazon where she led CORE+ (Conversations on Race and Ethnicity), an annual internal conference for 1.3 million employees. 

Diya's work is focused on developing DEI programs, strategies, and policies at scale. She has developed global work plans for 14 Employee Resource Groups. She is a proven subject matter expert, known for her big vision and tactical implementation. Diya has worked as a DEI consultant in Canada, Japan, Singapore, Germany and the US. She was a DEI columnist for The Seattle Times and Newsweek and a board member of the Asians at Amazon global board. She was appointed to the Seattle Women’s Commission in 2018. 

Diya received her Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University and Masters of Education from University of Toronto. 

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Travis L. Jones is an author, speaker, and educator who believes that big ideas change lives. He has designed and delivered learning experiences for organizations in the Fortune 100 as well as education institutions and not-for-profits of all sizes across many parts of the world.

He has published in academic journals and industry publications, holds a M. Div. degree in Theology as well as a B.A. in Philosophy and a M.A. in Sociology and completed course work in the PhD program in Organizational Science from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds certifications in LEGO Serious Play, Facilitation for Racial Justice Work, Brain Based, Foundations in Design Thinking from IDEO, a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), as well as a Coaching Certificate (BBCC) from NLI. He is also a Wilderness First Responder.

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Ellen is a policy researcher, writer, editor, and training facilitator with experience in consulting, nonprofits, academia, and politics. In past roles, she has researched education policy, translated legal documents, written DEI style guides and FAQ resources, and taught classes about human rights, the legal system, and DEI topics. Over time, she has focused on criminal justice, education, race, and genocide, but always returns to gender and reproductive justice as a central topic. In addition to working with the Origins team, Ellen tutors college students and serves on the board of Women 4 Change Indiana, a women’s rights advocacy organization.

Originally from Milwaukee, Ellen received her MA and BA in International Studies (Human Rights & International Law) from Indiana University, with minors in International Education, Spanish, and Music (Viola). In her free time, she listens to political and comedy podcasts, watches video essays on religion and queerness, plays video games with friends, and impulsively adds more languages to her Duolingo app.

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