Kobena-Marcus Collins

Kobena-Marcus J. Collins is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging professional. Holding  several certifications in DEI, marketing, and leadership, two degrees and a lifetime of  experience, Kobena has been an advocate for DEIB in a professional capacity since 2008. A  product of an extremely diverse household, Kobena became connected to learning about  cultures. As a self-proclaimed “Confused Kid”, Kobena has worked diligently to help create  environments where everyone can have a place of psychological safety and where they feel  supported to achieve their highest potential. Having come from a multi-ethnic/ multicultural environment, and having the opportunity to travel to 10 countries in one semester with  college students from around the world has given him a unique perspective that very few  others in the world have. He has studied DEIB best practices for the past seven years and  continues to gain new information from leaders around the country. 

Kobena is and has always been a leader – a servant leader, leading by example, and has successfully demonstrated this throughout his professional career. Because he is a servant leader, he has always been the ‘utility player’, doing whatever needed to be done. As his career  in the recruitment space blossomed, he became a leader in the Diversity Recruitment space  and in 2015, Kobena began to build his own national brand as a strong relationship manager/developer and DEIB professional. He has been featured in many podcasts/vodcast, sharing his knowledge and experience with the world, including Uplifting Impact, C3EB Summit 2020, and Seen@Work. Kobena has held numerous positions in numerous organizations over the past decade, including leading as a part of the foundation building of the Diversity and Inclusion efforts for Kohl’s Corporate Offices where his work impacts 100K+ associates. Recently, because of Kobena’s brand of service, leadership and diverse experiences, Kobena was appointed as a member of the Board of Commissioners for the City of Milwaukee by the Mayor of Milwaukee. 

As the Principal Consultant and Founder of Traveler Consulting, Kobena is a DEIB strategic leader, master facilitator of educational experiences, and leader of diversity early talent strategy. Kobena is also a community speaker/ advocate and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - the first of the collegiate fraternities created for African-American  men. Kobena is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He holds a B.A. in Secondary Education and  History from Lake Forest College, and earned a Master of Education in Cultural Foundations  of Education from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  

“I try to learn as much as I can because I know nothing compared to what I need to  know.” - Muhammad Al 

Kobena and his wife reside on the north side of Milwaukee with their young daughter.