The CFS Team

Our Team

We’re a deep network of practitioners, and industry leaders, united by a common goal - to design great cultures and architect successful orgs.

Simone Okafor (she / her)
Founder & CEO

Simone Okafor is an equity and belonging strategist and foresight practitioner with experience spanning across private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. 

Prior to founding CFS, Simone led the execution of DEIB initiatives at Omidyar Network and managed the organization’s new and growing Belonging portfolio. She is experienced in conducting holistic People Ops equity assessments, forming and advising employee resource groups and DEIB councils, and managing large scale change management processes (e.g. refresh of company values and behaviors). Simone is passionate about helping organizations create scalable practices that foster open, reflective, and inclusive cultures.

She previously led the recruitment and development of diverse talent at Upstart, an online lending company, and created and implemented the DEI strategy for the Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA Admissions team. She also served as the Director of Programs at Beyond 12, a San Francisco-based college persistence organization, managing the personalized and peer college coaching programs. 

Simone earned her MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BS in Finance from the University of Connecticut.

“Our mission is to help organizations design equitable environments that enable people to flourish and businesses to grow.”

-Simone Okafor, Founder & CEO, CFS

Expert Network

Cultural Frame Studio boasts an extensive highly accomplished professionals doing groundbreaking work across various verticals. Here are a few:

Ahmmad Brown (he / him)
Founder & CEO

With a background in sociology and professional experience as an operator and consultant, Ahmmad specializes in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) practices. His notable achievements include developing a pre-orientation program for Black students at a private college, leading a major DEI workplace culture assessment survey for a large municipality, and authoring a key racial equity document for The Bridgespan Group. As Diversity Recruitment Director at Williams College, he led recruitment efforts for first-generation, low-income, and students of color, shaping nearly half of each entering class. Ahmmad is pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Behavior at Harvard, focusing on Black students’ experiences at predominantly White institutions. His academic credentials include an M.B.A. and M.A. in Education from Stanford, an M.A. in Sociology from Harvard, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College.

Olufemi “Femi” Ogundele (he / him)
UC Berkeley, Associate Vice Chancellor of Admissions & Enrollment

Olufemi “Femi” Ogundele is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in diversity recruitment and strategy development across prestigious institutions, including Stanford, Cornell, and UC Berkeley. As Associate Vice Chancellor of Admissions & Enrollment, he leads recruitment and evaluation efforts at California's public flagship, focusing on outreach to LGBTQ+, undocumented, underserved, and first-generation students. His leadership has contributed to UC Berkeley's most ethnically and geographically diverse student classes in three decades. Additionally, Femi has expanded outreach to students and educators in sub-Saharan Africa. He holds an MS in Strategic Communication from Ithaca College, a BS in Journalism & Public Relations from Mansfield University, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education. His work continues to advance equity and access within higher education.

Core Values

We operate by a set of values that inform how we support, collaborate with, and counsel clients.

We are:

  • Empathic Learners: We constantly seek knowledge, embrace diverse perspectives, challenge assumptions, and understand the needs of our clients, team members, and community. Our empathy fuels our growth and helps us create meaningful connections and innovative solutions.

  • Engaged Partners: We are dedicated to fostering strong, collaborative relationships with clients, team members, and our broader community. Through active engagement, open communication, and mutual respect, we work together to achieve exceptional results and build lasting partnerships.

  • Creative Trailblazers: We think outside the box and push boundaries to develop unique, innovative solutions that exceed expectations and set new standards in our industry.

  • Champions of Equity: We promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. By fostering equity, we build a stronger, more innovative, and socially responsible organization.

  • Empowerment Advocates: We are committed to providing the resources, support, and opportunities for our team members, clients, and partners to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally.