Carol Ross-Burnett is CEO of CRB Global LLC offering diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) consulting, advising and coaching to individuals, groups and organizations. She most recently served as Senior Advisor, Diversity & Inclusion (“D&I”) Strategic Partnerships at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP, a full-service, global law firm with eleven offices in the U.S. and four international offices. In that position, she worked closely with executive leadership; partners; professional, administrative and support staff; clients and other external constituents to collaborate and partner around D&I.
Ms. Ross-Burnett was originally hired with director-level responsibilities for Sheppard Mullin’s nascent diversity and inclusion initiatives, a role that she held for ten years. During that time, she helped to position Sheppard Mullin as a D&I thought leader in the legal profession. The firm now regularly earns top client awards and law firm rankings for D&I, including a preeminent industry award in 2019. Ms. Ross-Burnett was awarded the firm’s 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Award for her outstanding leadership and contributions.
Before joining Sheppard Mullin, Ms. Ross-Burnett was a law school assistant dean of career services and multicultural affairs, and principal in her first consulting practice. She is a seasoned speaker, experienced trainer and workshop facilitator, and published author who has served in DEI leadership roles with many local, state and national associations and organizations. These include the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, the American Bar Association, the California State Bar, the Los Angeles County Bar, and the National Association for Law Placement. She currently serves on the board of California LAW Pathways, a statewide diversity pipeline program that provides instruction and guidance to underrepresented students through high school, community college, undergraduate school, and as they enter law school.
A woman of many talents, Ms. Ross-Burnett is also a singer, songwriter and music producer who holds an annual workshop in Los Angeles for singers, songwriters, authors and speakers; she also hosts workshops for women. In addition to speaking and writing in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, she will shortly earn the top designation of Distinguished Toastmaster, and her publications include stories in the Chicken Soup for the African American Soul and Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul books..
A lifelong learner, Ms. Ross-Burnett recently began her doctoral studies in Organizational Change & Leadership at the University of Southern California. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and also holds a 60-unit master's degree in counseling with honors from San Francisco State University. She received a certificate of completion from the Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations (LDIR) community program in Los Angeles, and recently completed a training intensive for professional coaches.
