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The room shifts when Dr. Donna takes to the stage.

PhD. LICSW. CST. 2x Author. The only certified sex therapist who will make your people laugh, tell the truth, and leave them with tools they will actually use.

Book Dr. Donna Oriowo

-As featured in

The Atlantic. Essence. HuffPost. Women’s Health. Men’s Health. Cosmopolitan. Bustle. Blavity. Living Local DMV. Therapy For Black Girls. Decisions, Decisions. Simple Practice. GrapeVine TV. The StrangerFruit.

Check the Press & Media Page

Dr. Donna at the Holding Space for Healers Summit Reel

Why Dr. Donna

The credentials are real.

So is the room.

There are plenty of speakers. There is one Dr. Donna Oriowo — the only certified sex therapist with a PhD in Human Sexuality, an LICSW, and two published books who can hold a corporate boardroom and a community healing circle with equal authority.

Book Dr. Donna Oriowo

4 Reasons to Book Dr. Donna.

4 Reasons to Book Dr. Donna.

  • Every talk is backed by 13+ years of clinical experience, doctoral level research, and lived experience as a first-born, first generation Nigerian-American Black woman. You don’t just get theory, you will get frameworks that hold up under scrutiny encased by on the ground clinical knowledge and backed by a masters in education.

  • Dr. Donna has been described by audiences as “transformative,” “hilarious,” and “engaging.” She will challenge your room— and they will thank her for it. No one leaves the same way they came in.

  • Prague. Ghana. New York. New Orleans. Mexico. From Ivy League classrooms to sex education summits to corporate DEI convenings. From audiences upward of 1000 to intimate spaces of 20— Dr. Donna knows how to read a room and deliver for it. Every time.

  • your audience will leave with tools, language, and a framework they can actually use. Dr. Donna specializes in taking large, unwieldily, uncomfortable concepts— race, sex, power, self-esteem— making them accessible and actionable.

—Signature Talks

Four talks. One Through-line:

your people deserve more.

Each talk is clinically grounded, culturally specific, and built to land in your particular room. All can be adapted for keynote, workshop, or training format.

  • DEI & Organizational

    Based on Dr. Donna's nationally published book, this talk brings the framework of self-esteem — real self-esteem, not the Instagram version — into organizational life. What does it cost your people when they can't show up as themselves? This talk names it and offers a way forward.

    1. Understand how supremacy culture erodes collective and individual self-esteem

    2. Build language for psychological safety that goes beyond HR compliance

    3. Create conditions where your people's best thinking can actually emerge

    This program is great for:

    • Corporate & DEI

    • Leadership Teams

    • HBCUs

    • Community Organizations

  • Signature Keynote

    The intersection of race, sexuality, and mental health is where Dr. Donna lives professionally. This talk dismantles the politics of violence in Blackness through storytelling, clinical framing, and hard truths — leaving audiences with a new lens for their work and themselves.

    1. Name the specific ways white supremacy operates in sexuality education and clinical practice

    2. Understand the clinical impact of colorism and texturism on self-esteem and sexuality

    3. Walk away with culturally responsive frameworks to apply immediately

    Perfect for:

    • BIPOC audiences

    • Clinical professionals

    • Sex Educators

    • Universities

  • Mental Health & Wellness

    A talk for the room that is tired.

    For the professionals carrying too much and the community members who were never taught how to put it down. Dr. Donna's five senses of self-care framework — developed and delivered across community organizations and corporate wellness programs — turns self-care from a buzzword into a practice.

    1. Reframes self-care from a luxury to a clinical necessity

    2. Engages the 5 senses framework in real time, not just as a concept

    3. Leave with a daily practice that doesn’t require the time or money budgeted to a spa

    This is great for:

    • Community organizations

    • Corporate Wellness

    • Mental Health Professionals

    • Faith Communities

    • Women’s groups


  • Sexual Health Education

    This signature talk — presented internationally and at national sex education conferences — explores the relationship between afro-textured hair, colorism, texturism, and sexuality. Based on Dr. Donna's published dissertation research, and first book, Cocoa Butter & Hair Grease: A self-love journey through hair and skin, it's the talk that makes practitioners re-examine everything they thought they knew about culturally responsive practice.

    1. Understand the research connecting hair politics and Black female sexuality

    2. Examine how beauty standards show up in sexual health curricula and clinical spaces

    3. Develop more culturally responsive approaches for the populations you serve

    Perfect For:

    • Sex educators

    • Health professionals

    • Planned Parenthood affiliates

    • Academic Institutions

Learn more

The receipts.

  • Pushed our equity work to a new level

    Working with Dr. Donna Oriowo and AnnodRight has pushed our equity work into a new level – she held healing spaces for our POC staff as an antidote to our predominantly White organization. These spaces are key to our long-term vision of being a department that embodies antiracism, and we hope to continue to partner with Dr. Donna as we move forward. We would recommend Dr. Donna Oriowo and AnnodRight to any organization that is seeking to take bold steps in their equity work, especially those interested in centering their POC staff. Here are some direct quotes from staff that capture the impact:  

    • “I have a better understanding in how to support and show up for myself, being a POC. My experiences are valid. “

    • “I felt so safe and heard in these groups. It was like being in a space where all of our experiences were invited and differences in those experiences were celebrated.”

    • “Acknowledging all the actions and isms people of color face helps empowers us as individuals for our work in sexual and reproductive health education.”

    -Ashley P. Booker

    Executive Vice President of Learning & Impact

    Planned Parenthood North Central States


  • Heartfelt Thanks

    We want to share our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Donna Oriowo, LICSW, M.Ed, CST for being such an important part of our Displaced: Black Women and the Workforce Retreat.

    Dr. Donna showed up not just as a facilitator, but as a true thought partner. From our early planning conversations through the retreat itself, she brought care, depth, and deep expertise. Her ability to name hard truths with both honesty and compassion created space for participants to feel seen, affirmed, and supported, while also being gently challenged.

    What stood out most was her presence. She met us all exactly where we were, offered language that deeply resonated, and held space in a way that honored both the pain people carried and the possibilities ahead. The impact of her contributions was felt throughout the retreat and reflected clearly in what participants shared afterward.

    As one participant put it, “Dr. Oriowo gave a sermon. I felt so empowered and affirmed.”

    We are incredibly grateful for her wisdom, generosity, and partnership. This work was stronger, more grounded, and more meaningful because she was part of it.

    -The Black Girl Health Collective

  • Warm & engaging

    Dr. Donna was gracious enough to speak at a DC Public Library hosted event developed to provide affirming and sex positive space for anonymous Q + A on sex and relationships ahead of Valentine’s Day.

    Dr. Donna was a definite highlight. Their humor and quippy responses kept the space space light and personable even as she was addressing serious questions in a thoughtful, non-judgmental way. Their expertise and intelligence was obvious throughout the event. Multiple people mentioned her to me after the event and said she was a great speaker the DC Public Library hopes to have back in the future!

    -Jennifer Foster

    Librarian & Event Coordinator at DC Public Library

  • I thought Dr. Oriowo’s use of a variety of engaging interactive learning strategies was well-thought-out.

    As a trainer myself, I sometimes wonder “is now the right time for small groups? Paired discussion? Large group movement?” and Dr. Oriowo absolutely nailed each selection. Beyond appreciating the topic presented in its own right, I admired the thought that went into presenting a session for such a large group...Watching her facilitation skills leaves me thinking that if she is on the agenda, I'm attending, whatever the topic.

    -William "Bill" Taverner

    Executive Director for the Center of Sex Ed

  • "Illuminative and transforming"

    I had an opportunity to hear Dr. Donna speak the National Sex Ed Conference in 2017 and her presentation was illuminative and transforming. Her discussion about negotiating race and some of the challenges that exist for people of color was sobering and refreshing. I’m looking forward to future collaborations with her.”

    -Dr. James Wadley

    Editor in Chief of the Journal Of Black Sexuality and Relationships

  • "Amazing! I learned so much from her webinar in general. "

    Admittedly, this is a conversation I dread having. This webinar addressed my own narrative around my children being sexual beings and how that was impacting my ability to effectively have this conversation and support them in informed decision-making. Dr. Donna guides you through tackling your fears and own narrative around sex and sexuality. The talk is for anyone who is connected to youth. Fear doesn’t prepare our youth to navigate their own sexual identity and if we don’t, someone else will. Have the talk. Let Dr. Donna help you!

    -Dr. Ajita Robinson

    Sex Talk Parent Edition Training Participant

  • "Dr. Donna’s light, fun, visuals were on point in a room full of black women!"

    Goal Digging Webinar participant

  • I loved the presentation,

    I think the dating advice or at least learning how to talk to your family and friends about the topic was helpful as well.

  • I appreciated the reminder and the amount of information and examples about the standards of beauty being around light skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. I teach classes to girls and adults (mostly their moms) together, and want to make sure I incorporate some of this info into that class so we can keep expanding the definition of “normal” and “beauty”.

    Amy J.

    Snatched Edges Why Black Hair Matters in Sex Ed Training Participant

  • "I have learned so much."

    This was the most productive, relevant and timely training I have attended. It challenged me and pushed me to do some REAL personal work. Thank you !!!

    Brittany

    The Darker The Berry Training Participant

  • "This was a powerful training"

    I feel like I can have those conversations as a black woman and not feel so judged. I learned about racial identity and how to integrate race and culture into sex ed work. I also learned more about intersectionality and how/where I fit in!

    Sasha

    The Darker The Berry Training Participant

Speaker Request Form

Speaker Request Form

Start the conversation.

Fill out the form below and Dr. Donna’s team will be in touch within 3 business days to discuss your event and availability.

— Book Dr. Donna

Let’s talk about your event.

Dr. Donna is the is right fit for organizations ready to see their audience not only inspired and entertained, but changed. Conferences serious about centering Black mental and/or sexual health; and institutions who are ready to move beyond the surface-level DEI.

If that's your room, let's talk

Dr. Donna available for keynote addresses, organizational trainings, conference presentations, panel facilitation, and corporate DEI consulting engagements.

In person and virtual formats are available

What’s Included?

  • Pre-event consultation call

  • customized talk/training framing to ensure your goals are met

  • Post-event debrief, including recommendations for continued work (in-depth needs assessment is an option that can be further discussed)

  • Other materials to include: a key notes document or workbook for continued engagement

Dr. Donna is available for keynote addresses, organizational trainings, conference presentations, panel facilitation, and corporate DEI consulting engagements.

In person and virtual formats are available

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