Meet Our Team
Dr. Damien Robinson
Founder and CEO
Dr. Damien Robinson is a seasoned professional with a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years in executive coaching, organizational change, program development, diversity, equity, and inclusion training, crisis management, conflict resolution, and public speaking. As the Founder and CEO of Introspective Consulting Inc., he brings a wealth of expertise to guide organizations across various industries.
Dr. Robinson holds a B.S. in Psychology from Howard University, an M.A. in Multi-Cultural Counseling from San Diego State University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from San Francisco State University. His academic background, coupled with his certification as an executive coach, solidifies his credibility and proficiency in his field. Additionally, Dr. Robinson’s exceptional academic accomplishments, including being a Gates Millennium Scholar, are a testament to his intellectual prowess. He has published multiple research articles on early childhood development and K–12 education and has been invited to present at esteemed academic research conferences throughout the country. Damien is also the author of a published book chapter, Black in the Middle, and a sought-after speaker on leadership and organizational change.
Having successfully led over 50 companies and influenced the growth of 30,000+ leaders, Dr. Robinson is recognized for his strategic leadership abilities. He has spearheaded strategic planning, organizational restructuring, program implementation, change management, and leadership development initiatives across various sectors, including entertainment manufacturing, architecture/engineering, sports, healthcare, higher education, and non-profit and independents.
Dr. Robinson's impact as an executive coach and trusted advisor is evident in his extensive track record of coaching over 60+ leaders, from C-Suite executives to high-potential managers. His guidance has proved invaluable to individuals seeking to maximize their professional potential and achieve optimal performance.
Dr. Robinson brings extensive expertise in the entertainment industry, having collaborated with leading studios such as Paramount, Disney, Shondaland, and NBC Universal. His work spans Live Television, Scripted Television, and News, where he has partnered with Writers' Rooms and Leadership Teams to provide tailored training and skill development. From Heads of Departments and Senior Vice Presidents to People Leaders and Individual Contributors, Dr. Robinson specializes in strategic planning, coaching, and leadership development designed to meet the unique demands of entertainment production.
In addition to his contributions to the entertainment industry, Dr. Robinson has designed and implemented comprehensive leadership training plans for organizations across various sectors. He has developed Accountability Dashboards, established Leadership Councils and Employee Resource Groups, and delivered impactful sessions at all organizational levels. His collaborations include renowned organizations such as Toyota, Honda, The Getty, Writer’s Guild of America, Rady’s Children’s Hospital, Sony Music, and Fannie Mae. Dr. Robinson’s passion, collaborative approach, and commitment to fostering holistic organizational growth are evident in his ability to build enduring partnerships worldwide.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Robinson is a member of Phi Sigma Pi fraternity and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Dr. Robinson's extensive expertise and commitment to fostering inclusive and impactful organizational environments make him an invaluable asset to any company seeking to excel in today's dynamic business landscape.
Sydney Baez
Executive Assistant
Sydney Baez is an executive assistant at Introspective Consulting, where she provides support to Dr.Robinson and his team. Sydney originally joined Introspective as an intern in January 2024 and, under Dr.Robinson's mentorship, gained a deeper understanding of the leadership consulting field.
Before joining the Introspective team, Sydney received her bachelor's degree in political science from American University in 2023. During her time at American University, Sydney held a number of leadership positions--including President, Historian, Initiate Advisor, and Fellowship Committee Chair--as an active Brother in Phi Sigma Pi, a gender-inclusive honors fraternity.
In addition to her involvement in the AU community, Sydney worked as an AUx Peer Facilitator for the introductory AUx program at the university, preparing first-year/transfer students for the responsibilities of college and engaging students in open dialogues spanning a range of hard-hitting topics, from unconscious bias to restorative justice. Through Sydney's five semesters as a Peer Facilitator, she recognized her passion for supporting others as they navigate their professional development journeys.
Senior Project Manager
Phoebe Nance
Phoebe Nance is a recent college graduate who majored in History and Spanish at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
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For three years, Phoebe was a member of the Creating Bias-Free Classrooms program, an award-winning teacher professional development training program designed to address bias based on race, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation in schools. That work cemented her passion for social justice and led her to pursue opportunities to work with the San Francisco Public Defender and the Western Justice Center during her undergraduate career.
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​In her time at Wesleyan, Phoebe was a nationally ranked competitor in the American Mock Trial Association. She spent a semester at Madrid's Universidad Carlos III, where she both developed her Spanish language fluency and studied modern Spain's perspective on the history of colonialism in the Americas.
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She also continued her work with the Public Policy department of the Public Defender, where she was involved in projects aimed at abolishing the city's gang injunctions and the statewide effort to abolish criminal fines and fees through the California legislature. Phoebe is passionate about all aspects of social justice work, with a special focus on criminal justice reform.
As a member of Gen Z, Phoebe brings a unique perspective to discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering insights into how these issues affect and are understood by young people today.
Amira Abudiab
Senior Consultant
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Amira Abudiab is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-14238) with an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and a concentration in substance use. Amira is a San Diego native with a Palestinian background. She received her B.S. in Physiology and Neuroscience at UC San Diego before transitioning into the mental health field, bringing a research and neurological lens to her studies. Amira co-founded AMALY, a mental health non-profit aimed at increasing access to culturally appropriate services for multicultural populations.
As a clinician, she has over five years of experience with clients from different populations, including college students on the Autism spectrum, adults with severe mental illness, and those struggling with substance use. She has worked in various settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, acute residential mental health treatment, and outpatient. Amira’s passion lies in bringing attention and resources to mental health in the Muslim and various multicultural communities. She runs educational workshops, support groups, healing circles, and incident debrief sessions from a culturally relevant lens to do this. She takes the approach that physical, spiritual, and mental health all work together using various interventions tailored to provide the most effective spaces.
Kevin Blake
Principal Consultant
Kevin Blake is a Principal Consultant of Introspective. He combines a comprehensive understanding of interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, youth development, humor, empathy and storytelling to make him a unique and effective trainer, teacher, and program designer.
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He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting/Directing from Florida Atlantic University. He has combined his expertise in the performing arts with over 20 years of diversity, equity, and inclusion program design and delivery.
Mr. Blake was an integral part of the InterActions program with the National Conference of Community and Justice, Artistic Director of ENCOMPASS, a non-profit human rights organization, and Program Director of Western Justice Center before joining the Intersxct team.
For over ten years, Mr. Blake has taught a service-learning class at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. The class teaches young artists about issues of diversity, inclusion, and school safety and engages them in programming which serves their community and makes schools more safe and inclusive.​
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Mr. Blake was a director, facilitator, and presenter of the Compassion Plays program, a touring facilitated theatre program exploring issues of racism, xenophobia, and cultural appropriation for 20 years. The program was presented to teachers, students, police officers, judges, and school administrators. It was a regular part of programming at the Museum of Tolerance, Just Communities, Pasadena Youth Ambassadors, Collaborate Pasadena, National Association of Women Judges as well as universities, k-12 schools, and professional, and religious organizations throughout California and beyond.​
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He was the director, performer, writer, and facilitator of the Creating Bias-Free Classrooms program, an award-winning teacher professional development training program designed to address bias based on race, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation in schools. This program was a part of multiple educator Induction programs and the ABC’s of Conflict program.​ ​
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Mr. Blake co-designed an anti-bullying program for teachers and administrators, focusing on the impacts and interventions of bullying and cyber-bullying, and delivered that program throughout Southern California. From design to implementation, he oversaw the development of an online conflict resolution site, SchoolTools.info. He is responsible for developing original video content which he directed, produced, wrote and edited and is used in over 135 countries and all 50 states.​ ​
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Mr. Blake is a popular speaker and performer with decades of experience with group safety, youth development and program delivery, with an emphasis on creating programming that is engaging, fun, educational, and inspiring.
Channelle Mcnutt
Principal Consultant
Channelle McNutt, MBA is a strategic advisor, coach, consultant, educator, facilitator and community leader.
Channelle is the CEO & Founder of Intersxct LLC, a consulting firm committed to developing people and places through the intersections of identity and purpose.
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For the past decade, Channelle has positioned herself as a thought leader and practitioner in diversity, equity, inclusion and leadership. She has worked with over 40 organizations across the world to deliver leadership development programs, drive organizational change, and develop high performing diverse teams.
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Channelle has worked with various auxiliaries, non-profit organizations and corporations such as, Southern California Edison, Edwards Life Sciences, Toyota USA, the National Basketball Association (NBA), Honda USA, Sony, The Writers Guild for America West, San Diego State University, Paramount, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Murad, Living Proof, The State of Wisconsin and Marquette University, the Sacramento Kings, Disney, and many more. Channelle specializes in organizational development, leadership development, program design, DEI, crisis management and strategic planning and execution.
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In 2015, Channelle was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as one of the Top 50 leaders of the “Emerging Generation” and in 2018 was named “San Diego’s Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40.”
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Channelle has always been an active member of her community, and continues to be, specifically in the greater Southern California region.
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Over the past several years, Channelle has held numerous leadership roles including serving as a DEI Committee Member for USS Midway, former Vice President for Next Generation Leaders for the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, a mentor for Junior Achievement of San Diego, founded the National Association of Women MBA’s at San Diego State University, and is an IMPACT San Diego LEAD graduate.
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Currently, she is the Vice President of Revenue Growth for the SDSU Alumni Board, where she drives an engagement and revenue strategy to cultivate and influence over 300K alumni and community partners globally. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
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Channelle has taught courses in leadership and professional development. In 2014 she was a Leadership Instructor for an inaugural program at SDSU called Aztec Azteca, that helped first generation college students transition to college. She also has provided keynote speeches and served as a dynamic panelist for programs across the country.
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Channelle earned both a Bachelors of Arts in Communication and Political Science and Master in Business Administration with a specialization in Organizational Development from SDSU.
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Dr. Aisha Taylor
Principal Consultant
Aisha Taylor, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist who combines expertise in leadership, equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI), psychometrics, gender equity, and spirituality to provide a unique style of consulting, coaching, and training.
With over 20 years of professional experience, she has advised high-level leaders and guided employees at all levels in corporations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies throughout North America. Since 2003, she has worked across numerous industries to deliver inclusive leadership and EDI training programs, build high-performing teams (including EDI Councils), and guide strategic culture change in organizations. A few of her clients include the University of Calgary, California State University at Northridge, the Kinkaid School, Watkins Wellness, Toyota USA, Honda USA, Seattle Aquarium, Calif. Department of Motor Vehicles, & Murad.
Dr. Taylor holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology from Portland State University and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities (emphasis: Religious Studies) from the University of San Diego. Her research focuses on leadership, EDI, and innovation, and she has taught university courses on Strategic Staffing and Employee Motivation. Dr. Taylor has presented or published her work in a variety of academic and professional venues
As part of her on-going commitment to women's leadership, Dr. Taylor led a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., working for gender equity within the Catholic Church. In this position, she partnered with national and international coalitions and served as an expert on women's issues in church and society to major media outlets, such as the CBC, New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, & London Sky News.
With expertise in psychometrics (the creation, validation, and analysis of psychological tests), Aisha has developed numerous employee surveys & assessments. She has directed several large-scale licensure and certification programs, with clients such as the New York City Department of Buildings and the Las Vegas-based Carpenters International Certification Council, helping them obtain accreditation and abide by the strict standards of the credentialing community.
She serves as EDI Strategic Lead on the Executive Team of the Canadian Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology (CSIOP). She lives in Calgary, Alberta with her spouse and two young children, where they enjoy swimming, living room dance parties, and building community.
Brian Joseph
Senior Consultant
Brian Joseph is a teacher, facilitator, and consultant working with youth, educators, and professionals across myriad educational and professional disciplines with the intent to build a more fair, inclusive, and equitable society. His work is expressly anti-bias and anti-bigotry. He is an expert in facilitating conversations around sometimes challenging topics such as religion, antisemitism, race, sexual orientation, and more. Brian was also the director of education at ECHO, where he wrote and published diverse curricula and designed and implemented programming for organizations working with children and families to advocate for youth voices and help create physical and emotional safety in family and youth-serving institutions.
He has moderated numerous listening sessions and worked for many groups as a facilitator, including Jewish Family Service, the National Conference For Communities and Justice, Los Angeles County High School of the Arts, The Western Justice Center, The Museum of Tolerance, Nefesh Los Angeles, and many more. As an active member of the Jewish community in Los Angeles, Brian has participated in or led numerous conversations, listening sessions, and interfaith dialogue events since October 7, 2023.
Mission & Values
At Introspective Consulting, our mission is to help organizations thrive by equipping leaders with the skills, systems, and strategies they need to succeed. We believe that growth is an intentional choice, and we partner with you to build strong leadership, healthy team dynamics, and a culture where people can do their best work.​
Fairness
We believe in equity of opportunity, ensuring that decisions, systems, and practices support the success of all people in an organization.
Empathy
We lead with understanding. By listening first and seeking perspective, we create space where people feel valued and heard.
Integrity
We do what we say we will do. Integrity is the foundation of trust, built through consistency, honesty, and commitment.
Collaboration
Stronger outcomes come from working together. Collaboration means inviting voices to the table, building trust, and sharing ownership of results.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our actions and our impact. Accountability is about clarity, follow-through, and building confidence that commitments will be met.
Courage
Leadership requires stepping forward, even when the path isn’t easy. Courage means making tough choices, addressing challenges directly, and leading with conviction.
