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Book Dr. Best

Dr. Shelley Best

Award-Winning Keynote Speaker

Cultural Architect

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Creative Disruptor®

Disrupt what divides. Reimagine what’s possible.

“When creativity leads, community heals—and the future is transformed.”

Invite Dr. Best to Speak

Rev. Dr. Shelley D. Best is an award-winning speaker, faith-rooted leader, and cultural strategist who transforms uncertainty into opportunity through her proprietary Creative Disruption®

A visionary at the intersection of art, activism, and healing, Dr. Best delivers talks and experiences that equip communities, leaders, and institutions to reimagine what’s possible—and rebuild with courage, creativity, and care.

For Event Organizers, Foundation Conveners & Leadership Hosts

When the moment calls for more than inspiration—when it calls for real shift—Dr. Shelley D. Best delivers. Her presence energizes, her words land with purpose, and her sessions create space for transformation that sticks. Drawing from decades of cross-sector leadership and her Creative Disruptor® Framework, Dr. Best meets audiences with exactly what they need: clarity in complexity, hope in disruption, and a bold vision for what’s next. If your gathering demands depth, relevance, and resonance—she’s the speaker your audience won’t forget.

Trusted By

Testimonials

"Dr. Best’s insights on creative disruption have profoundly impacted our organization’s approach to community engagement.”
“Her ability to merge mindfulness with leadership practices is unparalleled.”
“Dr. Best brought exactly what our team needed—clarity, courage, and a renewed sense of purpose. Her presence is both grounding and catalytic.”

Meet Dr. Best

Rev. Dr. Shelley D. Best is a nationally respected spiritual leader, cultural strategist, and the visionary behind the Creative Disruptor® Framework—her signature approach to rebuilding communities through the power of art, imagination, and justice.

As the President & CEO of TubmanWalker, Dr. Best leads one of the most dynamic philanthropic movements of our time, advancing reparative models that center belonging, creativity, and equity. A TEDx speaker, minister, award-winning artist, and author of Creative Disruption: A Guide for Arts Activists and Changemakers, her work helps institutions move from rhetoric to renewal—shifting how we think about leadership, cultural repair, and who gets to shape the future.

Whether she’s on stage, in community, or the boardroom, Dr. Best brings an unmatched ability to mobilize vision, voice, and values—turning creative insight into courageous action.

Featured Media

Fox 61 – The Power of Purpose and Creative Disruption

In this feature from Fox 61, Rev. Dr. Shelley D. Best shares her journey as a visionary leader using creativity, faith, and bold action to uplift communities across Connecticut. Her story is one of transformation—from the pulpit to the boardroom, from local roots to global resonance.

Now, Dr. Best is ready to scale that impact. With the Creative Disruption Framework® at the center of her work, she’s taking her message national—guiding institutions, foundations, and future-minded leaders in rebuilding culture with courage, imagination, and care.

This is more than a spotlight—it’s the beginning of a movement.

The Creative Disruptor® Framework

A Roadmap for Community Healing and Bold Change

As the nation faces the deep cultural wounds of division, economic disparity, and declining trust in institutions, Dr. Best offers a proven framework for recovery and reinvention. The Creative Disruptor® Framework activates artists, educators, civic leaders, and entrepreneurs to drive transformation where it’s needed most.

Whether your organization is focused on belonging, equity, economic revitalization, or civic healing—this framework meets the moment.

Invite Dr. Best to Speak

Signature Keynotes

Creative Disruption®

Reimagining Leadership Through the Arts
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A dynamic message on how creativity can be used to shift systems, reshape cities, and challenge inequality.
Creative Disruption®

Reimagining Leadership Through the Arts
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Ideal for:
Foundation summits focused on equity, arts, and innovation
Public sector gatherings (urban renewal, cultural policy)
National convenings on the future of leadership, justice, or philanthropy
The Belonging Blueprint

(for institutions ready to heal division)
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A bold invitation to move beyond performative DEI and toward deep cultural transformation rooted in truth, story, and empathy.
The Belonging Blueprint

(for institutions ready to heal division)
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Ideal for:
Organizations moving beyond DEI toward authentic cultural transformation
Higher education institutions navigating student activism and systemic change
Foundations focused on social cohesion, narrative healing, and inclusion
Leading Through the Unknown

Creative Wisdom for Transitional Times
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For leaders navigating burnout, uncertainty, or change—this keynote offers tools for clarity, courage, and sustainable impact.
Leading Through the Unknown

Creative Wisdom for Transitional Times
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Ideal for:
Leadership retreats seeking clarity in times of political, economic, or institutional change
Nonprofit and civic organizations facing burnout, change management, or restructuring
Conferences focused on future-of-work, values-based leadership, or emotional resilience

Each keynote draws from Dr. Best’s Creative Disruptor® Framework and is available with a companion workshop.

Book a Keynote + Workshop

Workshops & Retreats

Fortify

A Retreat for Changemakers
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Designed for those on the frontlines of change—educators, nonprofit leaders, and community builders seeking sustainability.
Fortify

A Retreat for Changemakers
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Ideal for:
Educators, nonprofit staff, and healthcare leaders needing replenishment
Foundation program officers and field leaders navigating mission fatigue
Cross-sector coalitions prioritizing long-term wellness and sustainability
Creating Communities of Belonging

(for institutions ready to heal division)
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Interactive workshops aimed at healing divides and fostering spaces of peace, equity, and collaboration within organizations and communities.
Creating Communities of Belonging

(for institutions ready to heal division)
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Ideal for:
Municipal leaders, HR teams, or boards working to reimagine institutional culture
Public libraries, arts centers, or civic organizations focused on healing divides
Grassroots or regional coalitions advancing equity, empathy, and trust-building
The Power of ‘Pause’™

Mindfulness for Real-World Leaders
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Inspired by her beloved dog Pause, this workshop helps leaders reclaim stillness as strategy. Dr. Best offers simple, grounding practices to reduce overwhelm, sharpen focus, and lead with calm presence in high-pressure environments.
The Power of ‘Pause’™

Mindfulness for Real-World Leaders
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Ideal for:
Nonprofit & foundation leaders
Executive teams & change agents
Burnout-prone mission-driven professionals
Educators and advocates leading through complexity

Featured Work

Next Release:

Creative Disruption

Art as a tool for community transformation

Dr. Best’s new book, Creative Disruption, is a bold blueprint for using art, voice, and vision to drive sustainable social change. It’s a must-read for creatives, advocates, and civic leaders ready to lead with heart and power.

Coming October ‘25

TEDx Talk:

Creativity as a Force for Urban Renewal

What if the key to healing our cities isn’t policy—but poetry, paint, and performance?

In this powerful TEDx Talk, Dr. Best shows how the arts can heal what division has broken, rebuild trust, and reimagine public life through creative leadership

Who This Work Serves

Foundation Convenings & Leadership Gatherings
Civic Rebuilding and Cultural Policy Forums
Creative Placemaking, Arts, and Community Events
Educational Institutions Facing Change
Organizations Seeking Strategic Inclusion & Narrative Healing

Invite Dr. Best to Speak

Endorsements

“If you consider yourself a disruptor, this must-read guide contains everything you need to know if you want to see art used as a tool to bring people and communities together. To lead the charge or join the proverbial shift, dive in and get all the gems!”

June Archer
Best Selling Author, TV Personality & Disruptor
"By showing how art can be a driver of both economic and social impact, this must-read guide challenges us all to strengthen our inner creativity and stimulate critical thinking; this is a wonderful roadmap to becoming a positive force for change for ourselves and those around us."

Ashleigh Miller
Owner & Co-founder, Shopzuri.com
“I’ve known Dr. Best for more than three decades and witnessed her evolution as a creative disruptor in every aspect of her life and service. Through this book she shares insight to some of the practices that have allowed her to nourish her soul so she could stay in the work of innovation and changemaking without causing harm to those she’s been called to serve. This book is a powerful resource for those with a commitment to build communities of belonging while fostering civility in our world.”

The Reverend Bernard Richardson, Ph.D
Dean of Howard University Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel
“Tired of the status quo? In Creative Disruption, Rev. Dr. Shelley Best shows you how innovative ideas, art, and everyday actions can equip you to make a difference. This is a must-read for anyone who wants art to be a force for good and positive change in the world!”

Stephen Lewis
President, Forum for Theological Exploration
www.fteleaders.org
“This book is a must read for those who want to better understand why diversity, equity and inclusion matters in the arts. As ballerina-of-color in a BIPOC company, we live the experience of creative disruption every time we step on the stage. This book celebrates the work artists like us are doing and encourages other creatives to use their art to pursue the dream of a world where everyone is valued, and everyone has the chance to experience seeing themselves reflected on the stage.”

Victoria Jaenson, Ballerina
Company member
Collage Dance Collective

Notable Features and Impact

TEDx: “The Sacred Disruption”

Founder, TubmanWalker
Author of Creative Disruption
Creator of the $20M Venture Philanthropy Reparations Fund
Featured on: National platforms in philanthropy, arts, culture, and economic innovation
Led initiatives in corporate, government, and grassroots spaces