company leadership
Al Vivian leads the Vivian Consulting Group with a clear vision: to develop inclusive, culturally adept leaders who can drive organizational success. A former Army Captain and seasoned consultant, Al brings both military-honed leadership skills and over three decades of cross-cultural leadership expertise. He has personally designed and facilitated training for dozens of Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofits. Under Al’s leadership, the Vivian Consulting Group has become synonymous with excellence in cross-cultural leadership development. (See “Meet Al Vivian” for more on Al’s background and philosophy.)
Al sits on the boards of Public Broadcasting Atlanta, the Editorial Advisory Board of Atlanta Magazine, and he’s part of the Overseer’s Team at The Outlet Community Church. Al’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Parachute Badge (Airborne). Al has also served as Advisor to the U.S. Army for Diversity and Cultural Affairs at the Secretariat level at the Pentagon.
Al resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife DeAna Jo. They have two adult sons.
The late Dr. C.T. Vivian founded Vivian Consulting Group, Inc. and set the gold standard for cross-cultural leadership consulting. A Baptist minister and civil rights icon, Dr. Vivian was one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest lieutenants during the Civil Rights Movement. He devoted his life to fighting injustice and teaching others how to build bridges across societal divides. As our Chairman, Dr. Vivian shaped our programs with his wisdom, courage, and compassion. His legacy lives on in Vivian Consulting Group’s mission – every time we help a leader overcome bias or an organization become more inclusive, we honor Dr. Vivian’s life work. We continue to be inspired by his example as we carry his vision forward.
Highlights:
› Was a key member of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.’s Executive Staff.
› MLK called Dr. Vivian “The greatest preacher that he ever heard.”
› Summoned to provide civil rights counsel to five (5) different Presidential Administrations (Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama).
› Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded by the U.S. President (Barack Obama).
› Was the first member of MLK’s Executive Staff to write a book about the movement — “Black Power and The American Myth” (50th Anniversary Edition released in 2020).
(Our broader team also includes experienced facilitators and advisors across different demographic and industry backgrounds, all dedicated to our mission of cross-cultural leadership excellence.)