In this episode, we sit down with Laurence Jones, co-founder and president of RiskVersity, for a powerful conversation on leadership, risk, and values-based decision-making.

Risk is often viewed as something to avoid or react to—but Laurence challenges that mindset. Drawing from his background in accounting, finance, and enterprise risk, he explains why proactive risk management is a leadership responsibility and how intentional planning can protect not only organizations, but the people and communities they serve. Through RiskVersity’s work with municipalities, school districts, nonprofits, and businesses, Laurence shares insight into the most commonly overlooked risks and the long-term consequences of addressing them too late.

The conversation goes beyond risk strategy to explore what it means to lead a minority-owned professional services firm in an industry where access and visibility are not always equal. Laurence discusses the importance of integrity, trust, and service, and why capability must be matched with opportunity.

A key theme of the episode is conscious consumerism—reframed beyond retail to include who organizations choose to hire, insure, and partner with. We also explore how platforms like Culture Currency Connection help surface values-aligned and diverse-owned businesses, making intentional choices easier and more impactful.

This episode is a thoughtful look at how leadership, risk, and values intersect—and why who you choose matters.

In this episode of the Culture Currency Connection Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II for a powerful conversation at the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity, and conscious consumerism.

Dr. Nunery’s career spans corporate banking and capital markets, higher education, entrepreneurship, board service, and strategic advisory work. As the founder of PlūsUltré LLC and President of Evolution Advisors, LLC, he has advised organizations across industries on growth, governance, innovation, and building authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies that deliver real business impact. His work has helped shape how organizations think about leadership, talent, and opportunity—especially within sectors historically challenged by representation and access.

During this conversation, Dr. Nunery reflects on his professional journey—from early career experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy to the pivotal moments that inspired him to start and grow his own advisory businesses. He shares candid insights on what it truly takes to build a values-driven organization, navigate change, and lead with purpose in complex environments.

A central focus of the episode is Dr. Nunery’s long-standing commitment to diversity and equality. He discusses lessons learned from years of DEI strategy work, common pitfalls organizations face when pursuing inclusion, and what separates performative initiatives from those that meaningfully move the needle for employees, communities, and stakeholders alike.

The conversation also explores the growing movement of conscious consumerism and how individual and collective purchasing decisions can influence corporate behavior. Dr. Nunery shares his perspective on why aligning values with spending is becoming increasingly important—and how technology can help close the gap between intention and action.

Finally, we connect these themes to the Culture Currency Connection app and its mission to help people “vote with their wallets.” Dr. Nunery discusses how platforms like CCC can empower consumers to discover businesses that align with their values, support small and diverse-owned enterprises, and encourage greater transparency and accountability across the marketplace.

Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, student, or conscious consumer looking to make more informed choices, this episode offers thoughtful insights, practical wisdom, and inspiration for building a more equitable and values-aligned economy—one decision at a time.