Global explorer and business culture bridge-builder Beth Ridley shows how differences drive success.
In the ever-evolving landscape of workplace culture and leadership consulting, Beth Ridley stands out as someone whose personal journey has profoundly shaped her professional mission.
As the founder and CEO of Ridley Consulting Group, her approach to leadership and workplace culture is deeply rooted in her unique life experiences.
Beth's understanding of diversity and integration began in her childhood hometown of Mequon, Wisconsin.
Beth’s childhood neighborhood represented a rare example of racial integration in the late 1960s, where black families could actually secure mortgages in what was then primarily Wisconsin farmland.
This early exposure to both integration and division would later influence her perspective on workplace dynamics.
Beth’s worldview expanded dramatically during her time in Japan, where she discovered that the most challenging cultural differences weren't the obvious ones like food or language, but rather the subtle nuances in how different cultures approach authority and communication.
This experience ignited her passion for cross-cultural education and understanding, which would become a cornerstone of her consulting work.
After building a successful corporate career, including 12 years at Northwestern Mutual, Beth made a decisive move to entrepreneurship.
Her transition wasn't driven by dissatisfaction but by a lifelong recognition that she needed the freedom to explore multiple facets of business and leadership.
"I knew if I let another 12 years go by... I would regret it," Beth reflects.
A significant pivot in Beth’s consulting focus came following George Floyd's murder, when clients began seeking her expertise in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
While Beth had the experience to meet this demand, she evolved her approach to focus on what she calls "new era leadership" – helping leaders create environments where everyone can thrive, regardless of their differences.
Today, Beth continues to adapt her approach, focusing on the joy of elevating differences as an asset rather than a challenge.
I asked Beth what advice she’d give her younger self.
In true Beth fashion, she gave it a thoughtful, creative twist.
I want my younger self who I think had it dialed right to give my older self advice. My younger self, I didn't worry about the outcome. I really, really didn't. I did not worry about the outcome.
I didn't worry, oh, this job is going to lead to this job, or this is going to look good, or I just was like, I'm enjoying it now, and I will do it while I enjoy it. And when I don't enjoy it, I'm going to make a pivot."
She contrasts this with her current self: "I feel like now that I'm older, I'm worried too much about the outcome.
I worry too much, Is this effort going to lead to this next goal?
And sometimes it takes the joy out of it because it's very goal-oriented, and I'm not enjoying being in the moment."