Men To Watch 2025 honoree Kenneth L. Walker

Kenneth "Ken" Walker is the Executive Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Culture at Per Scholas. He describes himself as an ever-evolving dynamic, visionary, dreamer, and doer of the work, purposeful mission work that he enthusiastically carries out at Per Scholas. He thrives on relationships with 21st-century leaders who are self-aware and embrace the Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity (VUCA) mindset needed to succeed in today's environment.

In this role, Ken ensures that Per Scholas's external-facing work around diversity and inclusion with employer partners aligns with the culture and feelings of belonging experienced by Per Scholas staff, learners, board, suppliers, and funders. He has put his stamp on the organization's culture, having been an integral part of the Per Scholas expansion into twenty-four cities over the last twelve years. He is a diversity and inclusion champion and Special Advisor to the CEO, leading Per Scholas' DEIB & Culture and Diverse by Design efforts.

Ken is a technology sector veteran with over 30 years of experience in for-profit sales, business development, and non-profit executive roles across the media, entertainment, government, and telecom sectors. Ken spent three years in business development at start-up organizations in Silicon Valley after transitioning from an 18-year career at IBM as a Client Executive in the media sector.

In 2015, Ken co-launched Diverse by Design (DxD) in partnership with the Information Technology Management Forum (ITSMF), the nation's most prominent African American senior technology executives association. Diverse by Design aims to discover and unleash new ideas and best practices that companies can use to increase tech workforce diversity and inclusion.

Ken's life philosophy emphasizes the importance of intersectionality, inspired by his faith in a carpenter who spread the Gospel's good news while engaging with people from all walks of life. He strives to ensure that his interactions enrich the lives of others, with the aspiration of leaving them better off than when they first met. Ken values life, laughter, positive energy, the simplicity of decency, and affirming the humanity in others. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his life partner of twenty-five years and spouse of thirteen.