Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Specialist (EBIS)

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Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Specialist (EBIS)
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STARTS ON
Apply by:
January 20th, 2026
Cohort begins:
February 3rd, 2026
PROGRAM TYPE
6 week program (blended)
PRICING
$
879
FOR
HR Professionals, Leads, Program Managers, Community Engagement Specialists, Culture Champions
Applied practice for real organizational challenges

The Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Specialist (EBIS) Certification equips emerging practitioners with the frameworks, tools, and confidence to create workplace cultures where every person feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best work. This is not theory-heavy training. This is applied practice for real organizational challenges: building psychological safety, navigating cultural dynamics, reducing turnover, and fostering authentic belonging.

Perfect for:

  • HR professionals transitioning into culture and people development roles
  • Team leads responsible for engagement and retention
  • Program managers overseeing cross-functional or community-based initiatives
  • Community engagement specialists working across diverse populations
  • Internal culture champions or employee resource group leaders
What You'll Learn

Over six weeks, you'll develop concrete skills in four core competency areas:

  • Design Inclusive Collaboration Strategies
    • Learn to structure meetings, projects, and team processes so that all voices are genuinely included—not just invited. You'll explore power dynamics in group settings, recognize patterns of exclusion (even unintentional ones), and build systems that distribute influence more equitably across your teams.
  • Apply Principles of Belonging to Increase Retention and Morale
    • Understand the psychological and organizational conditions that make people stay, engage, and thrive. You'll learn to assess belonging gaps in your workplace, implement high-impact interventions like recognition systems and inclusive onboarding, and measure the connection between belonging and retention over time.
  • Navigate Conflict and Cultural Misunderstandings
    • Conflict rooted in cultural differences, miscommunication, or unexamined assumptions shows up everywhere. You'll gain practical frameworks for de-escalating tension, facilitating difficult conversations, and turning misunderstandings into opportunities for stronger relationships and clearer norms.
  • Promote Psychological Safety in Teams
    • Psychological safety is the foundation of innovation, honest feedback, and sustainable performance. You'll learn to assess safety levels in your teams, identify behaviors that either build or erode trust, and implement practices that help people take interpersonal risks without fear of embarrassment or retaliation.
Program Structure

Week

1

Week 1: Foundations of Belonging

Explore the business case for belonging, psychological safety research, and the SCARF model for understanding social threats in the workplace. Complete a self-assessment on your current team's inclusion climate.

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Week

2

Week 2: Recognizing Patterns of Exclusion

Learn to identify subtle (and not-so-subtle) forms of exclusion in meetings, decision-making, and day-to-day interactions. Practice stakeholder mapping and power analysis to understand who holds influence and who gets left out.

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Week

3

Week 3: Building Psychological Safety

Study the neuroscience of threat and trust. Learn Amy Edmondson's framework for team psychological safety and apply it through role-play scenarios involving feedback, dissent, and risk-taking.

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Week

4

Navigating Cultural Dynamics and Conflict

Understand how cultural norms around communication, hierarchy, and feedback create friction. Practice using the Ladder of Inference and SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) feedback to address misunderstandings constructively.

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Week

5

Week 5: Designing Inclusive Systems and Practices

Move beyond individual behavior change to systems-level design. Learn to audit processes (hiring, onboarding, promotion, recognition) for bias and redesign them to be more equitable and transparent.

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Week

6

Week 6: Capstone Project and Certification

Present your applied capstone project: a real-world intervention you designed, piloted, or planned for your organization. Receive peer and facilitator feedback. Complete your post-assessment and earn your EBIS credential.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this certification, you will be able to:

  1. Tie the impact of employee well-being and culture enhancements to the organization’s mission, values and strategic goals
  2. Assess the current state of belonging and psychological safety in teams and organizations using validated frameworks
  3. Identify patterns of exclusion and power imbalance that undermine collaboration and retention
  4. Design and implement inclusive processes for decision-making, feedback, and recognition
  5. Facilitate conversations about cultural misunderstandings, bias, and conflict with clarity and compassion
  6. Apply research from psychology, neuroscience, and organizational behavior to solve real workplace challenges
  7. Build a business case for belonging initiatives that connects people outcomes to organizational performance
  8. Measure and communicate the impact of your interventions using qualitative and quantitative data
Who Should Enroll

This certification is designed for practitioners who are:

  • Ready to move beyond awareness-building to applied skill development
  • Working in roles where team dynamics, engagement, and retention are critical priorities
  • Committed to creating workplaces where people feel they belong and can do their best work
  • Looking for research-backed frameworks and tools, not just concepts or buzzwords
  • Willing to practice, receive feedback, and apply learning in real time

You do not need prior experience in culture work or formal HR credentials. You do need curiosity, openness to self-reflection, and a real organizational context where you can apply what you learn.

What's Included
  • 4 live virtual cohort sessions (60 minutes each) with expert facilitators
  • 10 asynchronous learning modules with video lessons, readings, and case studies
  • Downloadable toolkits: psychological safety assessments, meeting facilitation guides, feedback templates, and stakeholder mapping worksheets
  • Peer practice sessions in small groups to rehearse skills and receive feedback
  • Access to a private online community for ongoing support and resource sharing
  • Personalized feedback on your capstone project from facilitators and peers
  • Digital credential upon successful completion: Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Specialist (EBIS)
  • 30 hours of professional development credit (eligible for SHRM recertification)
By the Numbers: Our Impact
100+
professionals certified
across North America in our first two cohorts
92%
of organizations
report improved team engagement within 90 days of implementation
78%
of certified practitioners have been promoted or transitioned into culture-focused roles within 12 months
97%
satisfaction rating
from program participants
20-25
avg. participants per cohort
ensuring personalized attention and meaningful peer connections
Investment and Enrollment

Program Fee: $879
Includes all live sessions, learning materials, toolkits, capstone feedback, and certification credential.

Group Discounts Available:

  • 3-5 participants from same organization: 10% off per person
  • 6+ participants from same organization: 15% off per person

Scholarship Opportunities:

We reserve 10% of seats in each cohort for practitioners from community-based organizations, nonprofits, and under-resourced institutions. Apply during enrollment for need-based tuition reduction.

Next Cohort Starts: [Date] - Let’s make this the first Tuesday in February
Application Deadline: [Date] - Let’s make this the 3rd Tuesday in January
Enrollment is limited to 25 participants per cohort

Meet Your Facilitators

Darrylyn Swift, EILP

Neuroscience and Positive Psychology Coach
EveryPath360 Learning Institute

Carla Stafford

Learning and Development Manager
EveryPath360 Learning Institute
What Graduates Are Saying

"Equipped me with practical frameworks"

"As a newly promoted manager, the EBIS program equipped me with practical frameworks I use daily. I've since been promoted to Senior Manager and lead a team of 12."

– James C.
Senior Manager, Technology Industry
Investment in Your Future

Professional certification is an investment that pays dividends throughout your career:

  • 10% - 20%% average salary increase for certified equity and culture practitioners
  • 87% report new career opportunities within 6 months of certification
  • 2-3x more likely to advance to leadership roles
  • Gain credentials that set you apart in a growing, competitive field

Employer-Sponsored Programs Available
Many organizations invest in their employees' professional development. We provide templates and guidance to help you secure funding from your employer.

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Getting Started is Easy
1
Choose Your Program
Review the three certification levels and select the one aligned with your experience and career goals
2
Submit Your Application
Email info@idpipro.org to request application materials. Prepare a brief Statement of Intent and provide your CV/Resume.
3
Secure Funding (Optional)
Many employers provide professional development funding. We'll provide a template to help you request support.
4
Begin Your Journey
Join your cohort and start building the skills to lead transformational change
Your Learning Experience
Self-Paced Digital Modules
Learn on your schedule with engaging video content, case studies, and interactive exercises
Live Virtual Sessions
Connect with instructors and peers in real-time masterclasses and discussion forums
Cohort Learning Labs
Collaborate with fellow practitioners on real-world challenges and solutions
Capstone Project
Apply your learning to a meaningful project you can implement in your organization immediately
Ongoing Support
Access to alumni network, job board, and continuing education opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to attend all live sessions?
What if I can't complete the capstone during the program?
Is this certification recognized by professional organizations?
Can I take this program if I'm not in HR?
Will this program help me if my organization is resistant to culture work?
Do I need prior equity and inclusion experience?
How much time will I need to dedicate?
Is the certification recognized by employers?
Can I complete the program while working full-time?
What's included in the certification cost?
Do you offer payment plans?
Ready to Lead Change?

The world needs equity leaders with the skills, credentials, and confidence to drive real transformation. Whether you're just starting your journey or ready to lead at the executive level, IDPI has a certification path for you.

Join 500+ certified professionals creating more equitable workplaces.

[Apply Now] | [Download Program Guide] | [Schedule a Call]