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Kalyn Romaine didn’t start Forward Collective Group to add another player to the crowded consulting field—she launched it to disrupt how companies approach people and culture. And now, with her sights set on international markets, Romaine is proving that the right mix of vision, relationships, and resiliency can take you just about anywhere.
Forward Collective Group, a certified women-owned business, is based in Atlanta, but Romaine’s vision goes far beyond the city limits. Since 2016, she’s been on a mission to help organizations overhaul their approach to organizational development, HR, and DEI. But her growth hasn’t come from waiting for clients to come knocking. No, Romaine is a connector, constantly expanding her network and using her relationships as the driving force behind Forward Collective Group’s evolution into international markets like Turkey, Canada, and most recently, France.
Frustration Lit the Spark
Like many entrepreneurs, Romaine’s journey began with a spark of frustration. Tired of seeing the same tired approaches to workplace culture, she decided to do something about it. “It was the best revenge plot ever!” she says. “I have been a leader at the intersection of OD, HR, and DEI for over 15 years. No one executes people and culture work well across the board. I wanted to create a system with frameworks and tools that professionals can use to make their companies lovable and equitable.”
That fire led her to create Forward Collective Group (formerly Dream Forward Consulting), a company rooted in providing actionable tools and strategies that help organizations transform their cultures for the better. The idea was simple: stop relying on surface-level changes and dig deep into what really makes workplaces more inclusive, equitable, and effective.
The Power of Access
Romaine’s success isn’t just about creating great tools—it’s about getting access to the right networks. That’s where WEConnect International came in. By becoming WEConnect certified, Romaine gained entry into a powerful global network of women business owners who were just as driven as she is, as well as corporate buyers seeking to do business with women suppliers.
“WEConnect International has been a pivotal force in my global expansion,” she says. “I’ve built relationships with Turkiye- and Canada-based WBEs, as well as deepened my connections with US-based WBEs. The relationship-building has led to subcontracting opportunities, speaking engagements, and a better cultural understanding of the markets I seek to penetrate. WEConnect International certification has helped make global expansion a reality, not just a possibility.”
What’s Next
For Romaine, “what’s next” is looking increasingly international. After attending the WEConnect International Europe conference in Paris, Romaine successfully entered the French market. She’s targeting further expansion in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, where demand for her services continues to grow.
And she’s not stopping there. She is launching the Synapse Experiential Learning Institute, an on-demand learning platform designed to meet the needs of large, geographically diverse teams, and is now offering experiential marketing services to connect more corporate buyers with small business and diverse consumer markets.
But her ambitions don’t stop at services. Over the next 12 months, she’s rolling out podcasts, books, and more, all aimed at engaging professionals with fresh insights into workplace culture and organizational growth. And did we mention a PhD?
“I’m passionate about being knowledgeable,” she says. “I have continued my own learning journey through certifications and degrees, including my doctorate, which I will complete next spring.”
Kalyn Romaine’s story isn’t about overnight success or global domination. It’s about creating a network of relationships that fuel growth, finding opportunities in the toughest challenges, and expanding access to the kinds of insights and tools that can change companies from the inside out. With the support of WEConnect International, she’s been able to access new markets, build critical global partnerships, and elevate Forward Collective Group to new heights.
And she’s just getting started.