In 1996, Bill Proudman and Michael Welp pioneered a white-male-only learning experience, inviting a group of senior leaders to an immersive experience on race, gender, white male culture, and courageous leadership. This groundbreaking learning experience raised many eyebrows: A white-male-only session on diversity? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
Over 20 years later, Bill and Michael’s original creation is now White Men as Full Diversity Partners. We offer a suite of diversity and inclusion services to clients all over the globe.
Bill Proudman
CofounderStarting in the 1990s, Bill began pioneering white-men-only diversity learning labs after noticing white male executives were not actively engaged in their organization’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
Learn More About Bill
Bill’s innovative work led to co-founding White Men as Full Diversity Partners and the development of WMFDP’s provocative approach to engaging white male business leaders in inclusion efforts. For over 35 years, he has served as a leadership development consultant, coach and facilitator to countless organizations and executives around the globe on issues surrounding team effectiveness, cultural competency, and inclusion. He is a sought after speaker, writer, and thought-leader at the intersection of diversity and inclusion and leadership.
Bill is the founder and first board chair of the Experiential Training and Development Alliance and was twice president of the Association for Experiential Education. He is a co-author of a three-volume field guide on white men leadership and diversity partnerships.
Bill’s roots started in outdoor adventure working for Outward Bound. He remains an avid off-road adventure traveler preferring the path less traveled in the remote corners of the developing world as a way to find deepened personal meaning and heart felt human connection. He believes in the power of infinite possibility.
What motivates Bill?
“I want my grandkids to honorably use the privilege they’ve been born into and to join with others of their generation to create a more just world that works for everyone.”
Michael Welp, Ph.D.
FounderMichael is known for his authenticity, trust-building style and his expertise in the use of experiential learning to create transformative, lasting impact in the organizations he supports.
Learn More About Michael
In 1995, Michael partnered with Bill Proudman to co-found White Men as Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP), and for thirty years has worked extensively with organizations around the world to grow courageous leadership skills, transform conflict, and create cultures of full inclusion.
Michael is the author of the book, Four Days To Change: 12 Radical Habits to Overcome Bias and Thrive in a Diverse World. The book is based on 20 years of pioneering workshops engaging white male leaders and building leadership skills. Earlier in his career Michael facilitated interracial team-building with over a dozen South African corporations in his work with Outward Bound. His research on how white men learn about diversity led to founding WMFDP.
He is a member of the NTL Institute and earned his PhD and graduate degrees from American University and Fielding Graduate University.
Michael has also co-authored three field guides on skill building for leadership and diversity partnerships.
About his book, Michael says:
“I wrote the book to change the world! Yes, I know. Sort of like boiling the ocean. Along with my partner, Bill Proudman, and all of WMFDP’s staff and consultants, we are on a mission.”