Dr. Jarik Conrad is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and executive coach. He grew up in public housing in East St. Louis, IL, which has been described as the most distressed small city in America. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, two master’s degrees from Cornell University, and a doctor of education degree from the University of North Florida. He is also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), a certified intercultural sensitivity expert, and a certified emotional intelligence expert. He also holds a certification in Plant-Based Nutrition and is a certified personal trainer (CPT). Dr. Conrad has held significant roles at Fortune 500 companies, including McDonnell Douglas (Boeing), Pillsbury (General Mills), Union Carbide (Dow), Citigroup, and CSX. He has also held public sector positions, including leading the Human Resources Department for the City of Jacksonville, Florida. He is a member of the invitation only Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations (CREIO). Additionally, he has been an adjunct faculty member at Jacksonville University, taught continuing education classes at the University of North Florida, and has been an external faculty member at the Mayo Clinic, where he is currently a research collaborator. As CEO and President of The Conrad Consulting Group, Dr. Jarik Conrad presents inspiring workshops and keynotes to thousands of executives, business professionals, and educators each year. Dr. Conrad helps boost individual and organizational performance by helping his clients become more self-aware, connect better with others, and make better decisions. As CEO and President of Sprouted Bean, Dr. Conrad helps people take control of their diet and overall health.