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 Hill Okafor (she / her)
Founder & CEO
Simone Hill 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:
Dr. Ahmmad Brown (he / him)
Dr. Ahmmad Brown is an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, as well as an organizational change and development strategist. At Northwestern, he teaches in both the Master’s and Executive programs in Learning and Organizational Change and serves as the faculty lead for the Leading Equity and Inclusion in Organizations Certificate program. He is also a principal advisor at the consultancy Working IDEAL.
Ahmmad’s scholarship and professional practice focus on designing and implementing organizational structures and processes that foster belonging, equity, and inclusion. His academic work has been published in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice and Organization Development Review, and his opinion pieces have appeared in Forbes. He has also published award-winning teaching material with the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
Ahmmad holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University, an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University, and a BA in Sociology & Anthropology and Japanese from Swarthmore College.
Olufemi “Femi” Ogundele (he / him)
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.