Dr.
Kenneth D. Waters
Dr.
Kenneth D. Waters
Leadership Coach | Systems Thinker | Strategist
About Dr. Waters
With over two decades of experience as a teacher, educational leader, communications specialist, and strategist, Dr. Kenneth D. Waters has dedicated his career to transforming educational ecosystems and empowering organizations to better serve students and employees alike. A dynamic and relational leader, Dr. Waters brings a deep understanding of how strategic planning, systems thinking, and inclusive leadership intersect to create sustainable change and drive student success.
Throughout his career, he has worked at the nexus of education, equity, inclusion, and organizational development, where he has partnered with human and social service organizations, government agencies, and national media outlets – to facilitate organizational efficiency to advance employee and student outcomes. His expertise in advancing equity and inclusion through an access lens has enabled Dr. Waters to address the diverse, intersectional needs of students and staff across a wide range of institutions and communities. He is known for cultivating cultures of belonging and aligning operational strategies with inclusive practices to improve retention, engagement, and performance.
His approach is grounded in the belief that effective leadership starts with relationships. As a passionate advocate for inclusive-centered change, Dr. Waters has supported countless leaders in building adaptive, mission-driven organizations. He has led initiatives that have closed student achievement gaps, advanced student postsecondary matriculation rates, improved operational efficiency, and fostered organizational cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and innovation.
Dr. Waters earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from Neumann University; his Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Neumann University; his Bachelor’s in Journalism/Mass Communications and Business Administration from Temple University; his Executive Leadership Certification from Bryn Mawr College; and his Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification in Equitable Community Change from Cornell University.
Solving Leaders Mission-Critical Problems
“The Distinguished Group helps nonprofit and education leaders fix their messaging, strategy, and program delivery so they can retain funding, keep staff, and scale their impact”
The nitty-gritty is that if you’re a nonprofit or educational leader, you often feel overwhelmed and/or underfunded, and if you’re in a mid-level to an executive role, there’s a strong chance you need strategic clarity.
No worries, TDG understands and we’re here to help solve some of your most mission-critical problems, because we recognize.
Poor messaging to funders -> lost grants
Internal confusion -> team burnout, poor retention; and
Inefficient delivery -> failing to meet internal and external stakeholders’ needs
TDG is your thought partner, and our process is clear, strategic, digestible, and proven!
The Distinguished Group
The Distinguished Group stands out from other consultant firms by establishing trusting, engaging, and empowering relationships with its clients. Working with us, you gain a thought partner, who works collaboratively with you to help you reach your identified goals.
Our passion for developing and advancing leaders’ capacities and acumen for strategic planning, as we utilize our systems thinking approach, lends us the opportunity to meet our clients’ diverse needs.
The Distinguished Group commits itself to hearing, learning, and understanding its clients’ core concerns, so that we are able to provide practical, measurable, and sustainable solutions that are unique to helping you and your organization thrive.
Mission & Vision:
The Distinguished Group’s mission is to be a world-class Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, Team Building, and Equity and Inclusion provider, aiding individuals and organizations with maximizing their full potential.
Our vision is to work collaboratively with clients to build their capacities, to drive meaningful change that positively impacts them personally, socially, and professionally.
Values:
The Distinguished Group utilizes a client-centric approach. Specifically, we are committed to tailoring our services to meet our clients’ unique needs; understanding our clients’ mission and vision; and addressing our clients’ challenges in an actionable and thoughtful manner.
What We Do
Services We Provide
Training and Facilitation
The Distinguished Group designs engaging training workshops that align with our clients’ organizational goals. Our training sessions are intentionally thought-provoking, to ignite self-exploration, to advance operational efficiency, and to drive meaningful, sustainable impact.
Each one of our speakers, trainers, and facilitators are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experience to lead sessions for academic, nonprofit, for-profit, and government entities.
The Distinguished Group prides itself on leading authentically, where our training and facilitation sessions are deeply rooted in creating safe spaces, where participants can learn, be seen, valued, and heard.
Strategic Planning
The Distinguished Group works in tandem with our clients to aid them in executing effective and attainable solutions to stimulate organizational culture and business expansion. We accomplish this through:
Developing strategic roadmaps that are aligned with our customers’ mission and vision
Assessing organizations systems for operational effectiveness and efficiency
Advising customers on internal and external communications strategies
Developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; and
Designing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Leadership Development
The core of who we are is couched in developing and advancing leaders’ skills, specifically their emotional intelligence, change management processes, equity and inclusion lens, and connection to their staff.
The Distinguished Group utilizes the following Leadership Development Approaches:
Process-Driven Approach
Holistic Approach
The GROW Model Approach
Testimonials
If you got 15-minutes, and You're ready
to DISTINGUISH yourself as a Leader, then let’s schedule a FREE 15-minute call
to DISTINGUISH your Organizational Culture from others, then let’s schedule a FREE 15-minute call
to DISTINGUISH your Equity and Inclusion efforts from others, then let’s schedule a FREE 15-minute call
The Distinguished Group’s client-centric approach, is a consultant firm that provides leadership coaching, strategic planning, and professional development training in a manner that is personable, purposeful, and transformative.
Contact Us
- Address: Greater Washington, D.C.
- Website: TheDistinguishedGroup.com
- Email: info@thedistinguishedgroup.com
Copyright © 2024, Dr. Kenneth D. Waters – The Distinguished Group. All Rights Reserved.
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