Kevin Finke

My passion for inclusive groups, communities and environments runs deep. I work every day to help my clients and other audiences understand inclusivity and, more specifically, belonging: what it is, why it’s important to me, why it should matter to them, where they are in their BELONGING JOURNEY™ and how to foster a true sense of belonging for themselves, their teams and their organizations.

Personally, I feel a great sense of belonging across the many groups and communities I’m part of. I feel like I can be my authentic self. But that wasn’t always the case.

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From childhood to young adulthood (and even beyond), I struggled to feel like I fit in, like I truly belonged—in my family, at school, playing sports, in my small hometown, at my university, in my fraternity, in my early career, anywhere, everywhere. Of course, I didn’t know that’s what the feeling was or how to address it until later in life when I had the vocabulary and tools to do so.

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Now, because of my earlier experience with it—or perhaps, despite it—I’m drawn to the science of belonging, I’m drawn to igniting conversations about belonging, I’m drawn to designing experiences that nurture a sense of belonging. And I’m drawn to helping you do the same for your teams and organization.

You know that kid who never stopped asking why? That was Kevin. And asking why—finding out why something works and how to make it better—still drives him to this day. His contagious curiosity can be found at the heart of the experiences he designs for the world’s most progressive brands—from Disney and HBO to Heineken and Coca-Cola. It was also a major force behind TVP, the New York City culture boutique he helped build that AdAge placed on its Agency A-List for four years running.

Kevin founded Experience Willow in 2012 with a clear purpose to help others harness the power of their shared stories and experiences to cultivate change. His award-winning firm now partners with blue-chip clients the likes of Cox Enterprises, Cardtronics, FOX International, HBO Cinemax Jackson Healthcare, Manhattan Associates and US National Parks. For a five-year consulting assignment with global tech leader NCR, Kevin was named a 2017 HR Executive Rising Star for helping propel a company reinvention. He led culture and employer branding strategies and participated in thoughtful designs and redesigns of recruitment, onboarding, talent management, leadership development, learning and workplace experiences.

Kevin has been a featured speaker and facilitator for many high-profile events organized by Adweek, AHAA, Billboard Live, International Events Group (IEG), Integrated Marketing Association (PMA), Advanced Learning Institute, The Conference Board, Human Capital Media, IQPC Exchange, Onboarding 2025, Talent Management Alliance and numerous colleges and universities. Also a writer, Kevin’s feature, The Experience Engine, in Talent Economy has been one of Human Capital Media’s most read and shared articles.