About – Ashanti Leadership & PDS

We inspire leaders.
We are Ashanti Leadership.

Since 2014, Ashanti Leadership & PDS Inc. has offered advisory services to government departments and bodies, businesses, academic institutions, non–profits, community groups and individuals. We provide effective solutions to meet organizational needs in the areas of executive and management coaching, training, speaking and strategy.

We are a client–focused team of diverse professionals who use collaborative techniques, research, and education to support our clients and their stakeholders.

Our Team

Our diverse and skilled team has over fifty years of combined experience. Collectively we bring a holistic perspective when working on client needs. By working with a variety of subject matter experts, we can assemble the right team for the challenge.

Dr. Ann Divine, DHumL, MA, BA (Hons)

Founder & CEO

Ann’s expertise lies in human resource management, governance, and strategy. She is known for providing training services in Change Management, Board Governance, Strategic Management, and Unconscious Bias which she introduced to her Nova Scotian clients in 2015.

As a sought–after speaker, Ann has given several keynotes across Canada, delivers guest lectures, and offers facilitation services. Ann values her community commitments and holds Board–level positions at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, United Way Centraide Canada, Team Works Cooperative, Rotary International Area Assistant Governor, and others.

Through living on three continents, Ann brings a unique lens to client engagements. Her education includes a Women Leading Change certificate from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability, a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work, a Bachelor’s with Honours in Sociology and various certificates in coaching and human rights. She is a Certified Women Business Enterprises Canada member.

David Divine

Senior Consultant

David Divine is a change agent, consultant, academic and researcher, and has over four decades of experience in collaborating and advising government bodies and organizations on social issues.

David has occupied senior positions in social work practice and social housing in the UK. He ran a consultancy specialising in social work, housing, and community health from 1994–2004. In 2004 he was headhunted for the James Robinson Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada from 2004–2009, in addition to being a fully tenured Professor of Social Work at the university. During his time as Chair in Black Canadian Studies, he assisted in acquiring over 3.8 million dollars in grant funding within four years.

David specialises in social work, race relations, social housing, diversity, and inclusion. Through speaking engagements, coaching, consulting, and research he works with clients to resolve complex and sensitive issues. As a collaborator, he pulls in subject matter experts when needed to assemble teams to tackle challenges.

Rosanna Pelton

Executive Assistant & Event Planner

Rosanna Pelton is Ann’s Executive Assistant and plays a key role in the day–to–day operations and client communications at Ashanti Leadership.

She is the founder and CEO of ROSAPEL, a virtual administrative service providing entrepreneurs and small to mid–size businesses the online office management, executive administrative, and general administrative support needed to successfully run a business.

Lillian "Missy" Symonds Searl

Project Consultant

Missy plays a key role in training and supporting client projects at Ashanti Leadership. Missy also holds the position of a Provincial Coordinator for “Nurturing Strong African Nova Scotian Families,” an Africentric parenting program.

Missy sits as a Loan Review Committee Member with Rise, Vice Chair of the Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute, Board Director with Bridgeway Academy, community representative on the South Eastern Community Health Board and founding Committee Member of the IDEA Committee of the HFX Wanderers FC.

Riley Reign

Artist, Activist & Workshop Facilitator

Riley Reign is an interdisciplinary artist, workshop facilitator and activist based in Kjipuktuk. After graduating with their Master’s in Musical Theatre Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Riley spent 4 years living, working and developing their many crafts in the UK.

Much of Riley’s work as an activist, educator and artist focuses on highlighting marginalized voices and sharing their experience as a Queer & Trans person as well as their experiences living with mental illness and neurodivergence.

Riley is a valued subject matter expert on the Ashanti Leadership team for their expertise in areas such as 2SLGBTQIA+, mental health, diversity, equity, inclusion, and identity.

Temitope Abiagom

Project Consultant

Temitope is a registered social worker and researcher focused on migration, social inclusion, equity, and the empowerment of all women and girls. She brings a breadth of knowledge to the Ashanti
Leadership team.

As a Director of Advocacy & Community Response at YWCA Halifax, Temitope is entrenched in the community and the founder of the Immigrant Parents Network, a support group for newcomer and immigrant parents in Canada.

Training

Our partners receive training solutions built for the modern workforce and to support organizational and cultural design. 

Speaking

Ann Divine, CEO of Ashanti Leadership & Professional Development Services Inc., is a sought-after speaker on organizational and cultural change.

Strategy

We work closely with senior level government officials and corporate executives to problem-solve and implement strategies to support their organizational goals.

Coaching

Through one-on-one coaching programs, we support ambitious professionals who are new to management up to C-Suite executives navigating their next step.

This could be you!

Are you a consultant or expert?

At Ashanti Leadership, we leverage a network of skilled and experienced consultants and subject matter experts that can deliver on a range of dynamics within the contemporary workplace.

If you are a consultant or subject matter expert and have the desire to train and collaborate on projects with organizational and cultural change, contact us.

We inspire leaders.We are Ashanti Leadership.