Tracie Ransom is the founder of Ransom Strategies Group LLC. As the first Black woman partner in her former law firm, an AmLaw 200 firm, inclusive leadership instructor for The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs, former adjunct law professor of Race and the Law at Washburn University School of Law, former in-house counsel and department director in a Fortune 500 company and former federal appellate and district court judicial law clerk, Tracie leverages two decades of career experience to serve as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner to law firms, businesses, organizations – and the women and people of color that fuel their success.
Tracie understands well the challenges that law firm partners and business leaders face in working to build more diverse and inclusive environments. She understands equally well the unique challenges that women and people of color face as they seek to not merely survive, but thrive in their careers. The challenges are particularly unique for women of color, who are at the intersection of these two groups. Yet, Tracie believes that every challenge, properly reframed, presents opportunities. Opportunities to think differently. To engage differently. And to employ different approaches until sustained results are achieved. From this belief, Ransom Strategies Group was born.
Prior to launching this firm, Tracie was Associate General Counsel and Director of Complaints for Edward Jones. She previously climbed the ranks from summer associate to litigation partner with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP. Tracie clerked for the Honorable Jeffrey S. Sutton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Honorable James L. Graham, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.
Active in the community, Tracie served on the Board of Directors for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for nearly seven years and continues her partnership and support of this organization today. In addition to having served on several other boards of directors, Tracie was previously appointed to serve on the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Among her many affiliations, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a national public service organization. Tracie frequently speaks in schools and churches and has mentored countless middle and high school students over the course of her career.
Tracie earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration, cum laude, from the University of Alabama, in 2001 and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2004. When she's not serving her clients or the community, Tracie loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, enjoying live music and taking in the arts, especially ballet, the symphony and theater.
A highly engaging and informative presenter with plenty of real-world, actionable strategies, Tracie Ransom is frequently called upon to speak regarding a variety of topics related to the recruitment, development, retention and promotion of women and people of color in the workplace. Here's what some keynote and workshop attendees have shared:
"Your energy is contagious. You made [the workshop] interesting and fun."
"Great speaker, engaging, and exciting to listen to!"
"She has great insight coming from both the law firm and in-house on diverse women moving up through the ranks . . . She was great at pointing out specific steps we can take to advance women of color in our firms and in-house."
"One of the things that I enjoyed the most about her presentation was that she offered concrete things we can do in our workplaces to make a difference in retaining people of color and in allowing them to grow and succeed in our workplace environment."
"One of the highlights for me is that Tracie’s recommendations are based on data, and I think that it’s very important for all of our decision-making to be data driven. Data supported her recommendations. I also appreciated the fact that she gave practical tips and practical advice for how to implement successful programs."
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Selected Public Speaking Engagements