About Reggie Butler
Meet the former band leader on a mission to help us all become better humans. Reggie Butler was born in St. Louis, MO, to a father who served in World War II and a mother who worked full time as an analyst for the federal government, raised three sons, and loved laughter and music. Reggie developed early passions for muscle cars, roller skating, and swapping stories. But above all else, his true love was running home every day to practice the piano. His mother’s love of music and dancing fused with his father’s military structure became the foundation for how Reggie evolved into a musician, band leader, creative visionary, educator, and truth teller. The world of music was where he first learned about dedication, practicing without noticing that day had turned into night. It’s where he first learned to lead and inspire a team.
While some people get their early lessons in leadership on a sports field, some on a student newspaper, others in the classroom, Reggie learned at band practice in his parent’s basement every Tuesday and Thursday, and on stage in front of an audience every Friday and Saturday. His undergraduate degree in musical theater and his masters in educational administration sharpened his skills and focused his boundless energy on creating experiences not just to entertain, but to connect, challenge, and inspire. Ultimately, it drove Reggie’s ability to help people see what they may not be able to see for themselves.
From those roots, the human traveling the world today is an accomplished strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker. After working as a consultant in professional services firms, he co-founded Performance Paradigm with the mission to change the human condition through storytelling. His work is a journey through leadership, team performance, belonging, inclusion, communication, and social justice. Thirty five years of experience translates into a wide ranging client portfolio from NGOs and professional services to automotive and tech. Regardless of client or industry, Reggie the human resonates because his work is always grounded in understanding the stories that shape individuals and cultures. He helps his clients write their next story, always with a focus on being intentional about the experiences people are creating for each other.
Press Features
Sundance | Q& A Sundance Institute
As we start another year and, in turn, another incarnation of the Sundance Film Festival, we transition from a moment of reflection into a quick of action and excitement. No team at the Sundance Institute better embodies that eternal balance of contemplation and progress more than the group behind our Safety and Belonging program. Quayla Allen — the Institute’s senior manager, racial equity — is one of the leaders of the Safety and Belonging program, and her team has been evolving what it means to feel safe at the Sundance Film Festival…
FORBES | Purpose at Work: How Google Is Building Diversity With Performance Paradigm
While diversity, equity and inclusion are paramount to attracting and retaining top talent, many companies miss the mark. When brands do implement a program, it may not actually be effective. “For so long, we looked up at largely white men and asked them how the organization is doing on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Michael Munoz, who leads diversity, equity and inclusion within Marketing at Google, tells We First. “We need to look at the Black, Latinx, Asian, indigenous populations and ask, ‘How are we doing at building a culture where you feel empowered and a strong sense of psychological safety?’” Performance Paradigm is helping Google do just that…
Simon Mainwaring: Lead With We | Google's Michael Muñoz & Performance Paradigm's Reggie Butler: Re-Centering Humanity in Business
Lots of companies are talking about diversity, equity and inclusion these days, but what does it mean to actually move the needle in those areas? As we mark the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, there couldn’t be a more relevant topic. Each of us has a role to play in bringing about a better future, and business leaders are uniquely positioned to create lasting change.In this episode of Lead With We, I had the privilege of speaking with Michael Muñoz, Global Marketing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead at Google, and Performance Paradigm’s Reggie Butler about the lessons they’ve learned doing DE&I within today’s leading corporations…
What New Workforce Dynamics Mean for Black Professionals
The last two years have resulted in a paradigm shift in the global workforce. The pandemic drastically changed behavioral norms– and businesses and employees alike had to adjust to the new rules of corporate America. Businesses had to identify ways to retain productive employees, particularly during the “Great Resignation of 2021 which saw thousands of employees exit the workforce to seek better working conditions, compensation, and opportunities. As corporations set up for remote working, they also engaged in culture work – having outside consultants perform a culture audit, work on team dynamics, and identify ways to shift the corporate culture toward a more collegial environment. These efforts often included weaving equity, inclusion and diversity (EID) into the DNA of the corporate culture – a trend that accelerated as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement…
Money Making Conversations Master Class: Reggie Butler Aids Execs in Changing Company Culture in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Space
Performance Paradigm CEO Reggie Butler empowers executive leadership to change organizational culture in the diversity, equity and inclusion space with Money Making Conversations host, Rushion McDonald.
Think With Google | 9 Ways We're Changing Habits, So We Can Make More Inclusive Marketing at Google
Lorraine Twohill is the Chief Marketing Officer of Google. Here she shares insight into her team’s continued work on making the brand’s ads more representative and inclusive. The great educator and champion of inclusion, Reggie Butler, once told me, “Habits won't change with the head alone, you have to engage the heart as well." Today I work in two industries, tech and advertising, that I believe care deeply about diversity but where old habits have held back progress. As Google’s CMO, I know it’s my job to help change this…