Wade Davis: Former NFL Player

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • Wade is currently the Global Vice President of Inclusion Strategy for at Netflix and has consulted for companies including Google, Procter & Gamble, Viacom, and others to co-create transformative solutions to build inclusive corporate cultures.
  • Former NFL Player Wade Davis is a thought leader, public speaker, and writer on gender, race, and orientation equality.


Formats Available:

Preferred Audience Sizes:

Outcomes:
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Los Angeles, California
  • **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

As a former NFL player and one of the few openly gay former professional athletes, Wade shares his own coming out process and the work he does as an LGBT consultant for the NFL and as Executive Director of the You Can Play Project, an organization with partnership with including the NHL, MLS, CFL and others.

When working in marginalized communities, the words and the language that we use matters, and how we talk about the young people we are trying to impact can determine how we show up – as social justice advocates or as saviors.

  • Do we see their promise?
  • Do we see them as we look at ourselves in the mirror?

While working with marginalized youth at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, teaching at the Harvey Milk High School, and creating the country’s only inner city LGBT sports camp, Wade explains how to embody this idea of fictive kinship and see the promise in young people.

How do you define masculinity?

Wade defines masculinity as an imaginary friend, and if left unchecked, masculinity can be highly toxic.

Through his teachings and training, he’s learned we must do the work to unlearn the seductive nature of sexism and toxic masculinity, and move to create space for all without stigma and shame being attached.

Wade talks about the work he’s done to undo the constraints of perceived masculinity, and move forward in a positive way.

Have we emptied the true meaning of intersectionality by only changing the optics of organizations, without understanding the structural and institutional challenges that go unnoticed?

Through practical and tangible examples, see how Wade can help your business evolve into a space where diversity and inclusion becomes part of your organizational DNA.

Far too often we imagine that ending sexism impacts only women.

Yet if we re-imagine the gender roles and expand our understanding of masculinity and femininity, men benefit from the expansion: how they can show up in world without the pressures of performing toxic forms of hyper masculinity.

Wade explores his own dialog with feminism, tools to be pro-active about ending the sexist dialog, and leads conversation around the topic.

Former NFL Player Wade Davis is a thought leader, public speaker, and writer on gender, race, and orientation equality. Wade is currently the Vice President of Inclusion Strategy for Product at Netflix and has consulted for companies including Google, Procter & Gamble, Viacom, and others to co-create transformative solutions to build inclusive corporate cultures.

Additionally, Wade coaches senior leaders to adapt and flex their leadership styles to meet the needs and develop their employee population.

Wade Davis | Diversity & Inclusion

Wade is a Global Champion for Innovation for UN Women, and serves on the boards of MeToo International, the Ms. Foundation for Women, the MAD Foundation, Promundo, the Peace Studio, and Sparks + Honey. Wade is also a Global Champion for Girl Up, a program of the United Nations Foundation.

Wade Davis’s work to engage, educate, and help men understand what actions to take toward gender equality has included partnerships with the Ms. Foundation and Ebony Magazine where he launched the #BlackMenAndFeminism campaign and with the Ms. Foundation For Women’s #MyFeminismIs campaign.

Understanding the importance of engaging men around gender equity and equality, Wade built a ‘Men’s Gender Equality Development’ leadership program that launched with the United Nations in 2018.

Wade was the NFL’s first LGBT inclusion consultant and has consulted for numerous professional sports leagues on issues at the intersection of sexism, racism and homophobia. Wade created league-wide inclusive leadership strategies, led inclusion-training sessions for coaches and players, as well as built and launched national engagement initiatives.

View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter

Talent Resources

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

You may be interested in...

  • (28)

Dr. Catriona Wallace is a globally recognized thought leader in artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and digital transformation. A trailblazer in the tech industry, Dr. Wallace is one of the few women at the helm of an AI-driven enterprise, leading the charge to create technology that not only solves problems but also fosters positive societal impact. […]

  • Travels from: Sydney, NSW
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • (27)
Cady Coleman - MISSION INTERPLANETARY

Former NASA Astronaut and Air Force Colonel Cady Coleman is a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions and a six-month expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Onstage, Coleman draws from her time at NASA and in extreme “remote work” situations to discuss team building, leadership, and innovation. With her extraordinary photos and videos, Coleman delivers a […]

  • Travels from: Washington, DC
  • Military Speakers
  • (38)
Gaby Natale

Triple Emmy-Winning Journalist and Bestselling Author Gaby Natale is on a mission to awaken the PIONEER spirit in each of us. Gaby stands as a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, possessing not only the creative prowess but also the entrepreneurial acumen to carve her path. As one of the few women who own the rights […]

  • Travels from: Fort Worth. TX
  • Hispanic Speakers
  • (14)
  • (3)
James Beck

In a world where workplace culture is increasingly recognized as a critical component of organizational success, James Beck emerges as a beacon of transformative change. With a passion for neuroscience and a commitment to fostering happiness and unity in the workplace, James is not just a speaker; he is a catalyst for profound cultural shifts. […]

  • Travels from: Redondo Beach, CA
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (21)
Tanya Menon

Tanya Menon is a renowned leadership strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations and teams bridge the gap between where they are and where they need to be. With a focus on leadership development, team dynamics, and organizational culture, Tanya has spent decades studying human behavior in organizations. She empowers leaders to make strategic decisions […]

  • Travels from: Columbus, OH
  • Organizational Culture
  • (9)
Dr Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins-cover

Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins is one of the most electrifying voices in America dedicated to eliminating racial health disparities. Renowned for his dynamic storytelling and unwavering commitment to health equity, Dr. Jenkins challenges audiences to confront the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequities in healthcare. His passionate delivery and insightful perspectives have positioned him as a […]

  • Travels from: Philadelphia, PA
  • Healthcare Speakers
  • (50)
Dr. Lisa D. Jenkins

Dr. Lisa D Jenkins is a distinguished cultural strategist renowned for her expertise in cultivating environments of impactful cultural diversity within organizations. With a track record of excellence, she has garnered recognition as an award-winning professional speaker, empowering teams to thrive in multicultural settings. Lisa’s journey is enriched by her diverse background, including pivotal roles […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Diversity Speakers
  • (19)
  • (3)
Mark Black

Mark Black is a renowned resilience expert whose life story is a testament to the power of determination, perseverance, and the human spirit. Born with a life-threatening heart defect, Mark faced insurmountable odds from the very beginning. He underwent two open-heart surgeries before his first birthday, setting the stage for a life marked by extraordinary […]

  • Travels from: Dieppe, New Brunswick
  • Motivational Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.