Sparking imagination and action for a more joyful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

 100% Woman Owned Business

Joni Roberts, Founder & Chief Evolution Officer

"It's my joy to support people in their leadership and sustainability journeys. My career as an international entrepreneur, leadership and strategy professor, and creator of all things Evolution University, have given me a breadth of knowledge to work with while helping others be successful."

For as long as I can remember, I've had a deep passion for enjoying nature and connecting with diverse cultures around the world. As a young girl, I was given freedom to roam and I would spend all day in nature, inspecting bugs, flowers, and fruits of the forest. I also had a light-up globe next to my bed and I would spend hours being fascinated by all of the countries and people that make up our world. Today, as a business professor with a MBA in International Business, I am troubled by the path we are on of endless growth and consumption-driven economics, which are stressing the planet and causing global crises related to pollution and degradation of our air, land, water, oceans, forests, ecosystems, and societies. 

What I am keenly aware of, is we keep teaching the same things in business schools that we’ve been teaching, which contribute to the problems we are experiencing. It’s time to think differently and teach new ways of being that lead to outcomes we want.

"My deepest devotion is to serve, protect, and restore Mother Earth and support as many people on the path as possible. I invite you to join me to learn, grow, and evolve together!"

Entrepreneurial Endeavors

As the Founder and Chief Evolution Officer of Evolution University, Joni combines her unique experience as an international entrepreneur and business professor with a passion for creating a more joyful, prosperous, and sustainable world. From launching one of the first American-owned tech companies in Romania in the early 2000s to today with Evolution University, her work has woven in themes of creating a better world through people, processes, and products.

Educational Leadership

As a business professor, Joni has taught over 100 MBA and undergrad courses across diverse topics including international business, global strategy, innovation, sustainability, leadership, and human and organizational behavior. She is an adjunct professor in the College of Business and Public Management with Kean Online since 2015 and serves on Kean University's President's Taskforce for Sustainability for Academics. She has presented her EVOLVE Sustainability Framework at several academic conferences to demonstrate how higher education can be transformed to meet today's challenges, including the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD), the top forum for discussing sustainability issues hosted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Previously, she worked with Saylor Academy as a Vice Program Chair, Student Success Fellow, and Consulting Professor for their open-education MBA program and led the development of the Innovation and Sustainability course. 

Leadership for Sustainability

In January 2020, Joni decided to go for it and set up Evolution University, a dream many years in the making. During the pandemic, she took this time for deep thinking and reflection and has been on a significant creativity surge since. Her work is a game changer for the way we do business by thinking differently about how we solve problems for people and the planet while making products and delivering services. Her work includes new frameworks, courses, and workshops that reshape education for sustainability and help people and organizations transform into higher versions of themselves.

Creator of the:

  • EVOLVE Sustainability Framework
  • EVOLVE Sustainability Innovation Sprint
  • Compassion-Centered Stakeholder Engagement process
  • Compassion-Centered Stakeholder Analysis
  • Sustainability Stakeholder Matrix
  • The Five Authentic Connection Steps
  • The Five Essential Mindsets that Evolve Us and Our World

Author of:

  • The EVOLVE Sustainability Learning Journeys, online courses
  • The Power of Authentic Connection, online course
  • Cultivating Connection with the Celebrations, Appreciations and Frustrations practice, online course, book, and journal
  • MOREcompassion for People and the Planet, online course

Leadership Roles

  • Official Partner, United Nations Foundation for UN Global Goals Week, 2023-present
  • Chair of the Board of Directors, North Florida Green Chamber, 2023-2025
  • Co-Chair, North Florida Climate Action Planning, Community Sector, 2024-2025
  • Climate Reality Project Leader, April 2024 NYC
  • Steward, Council for Inclusive Capitalism, 2023-present
  • Member, President's Taskforce for Sustainability, Academics, Kean University, 2022-present
  • Founder, MOREcompassion, since 2012
Global Adventures

In 1996, Joni set off on a solo around-the-world trip, traveling throughout the South Pacific, Asia, Africa, Egypt, and Europe, prior to tech advances such as websites and cell phones. Every day of her journey was filled with serendipity and life expanding experiences. She knew she wanted to remain connected as a global citizen and went on to earn dual International Master of Business Administration degrees from the USA and Austria. Upon graduation, she was hired by the US Ambassador to Romania, James Rosapepe, and began a four year journey in international relations and tech entrepreneurship.

Education

  • University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business | Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien — International Master of Business Administration (IMBA), Dual Degree
  • Michigan State University — College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Advertising,


Harmony with Nature

When she’s not pursuing her moonshot, you can often find her hiking in a Florida forest or swimming the coastline.

Speaking Engagements  

Connect with Joni at events live in-person and online where she speaks on topics that spark imagination and action for social and environmental sustainability, while showing us ways we can change paradigms for what we learn and how we lead to better our lives today and create the future we want.

Follow Joni

Follow Joni's unique hashtag #EvolveOurWorld across social media where she talks about mindsets, compassion hacks, and the UN SDGs. 

Testimonials

Joni and I collaborated together in founding a new organization. Joni's expertise proved to be an invaluable contribution in getting the organization up and running. Joni is a true visionary with great strategic ideas and she also has the ability to see these ideas through to execution. She has a keen sense of the market and is very creative in branding and marketing!
Jeff Bailey, MBA, CEO, ORTEC North America
Joni is gifted at delivering penetrating insights with grace and encouragement. With her help, I was able to step back and see my customers' needs and resolve conflicts I had between my company's values and the industry it is in. As a result, I'm developing a marketing strategy that feels right for my company, gives it more personality and sets it apart from others. This is just what I needed. Thanks so much Joni!
Caren Burmeister, founder, second nature skin & caren tells your story
I first met Joni while she was working for the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Romania. Later we had a chance to collaborate on several events we organized in the tech sector under the "First Tuesday" banner in Bucharest. Joni was a regular speaker at the events as her company Kaleidotek was one of the first tech outsourcing companies set up in Romania. I was impressed with Joni's credentials regarding international business and entrepreneurship and I look forward to working with her again in the future.
Bill Avery, MBA, MA, Executive Director, Alianta & Founder and Former Publisher, Business Review Romania
Professor Roberts is a dynamic presence on campus, well loved by her students, administration, and her colleagues. She is more than a friendly face or easy to work with colleague. She is proactive and works to find solutions to improve all aspects of higher education. Thoughtful and eager, I have witnessed Professor Roberts turn her classroom into a truly interactive experience for students transforming even sluggish or shy performers into engaged learners. In addition, she's just a lovely person who cares deeply about her students and coworkers.
Cathleen Jensen-Gall, MA, Visiting Professor, Humanities, Ethics, Social Studies, Keller Graduate School of Management
Joni designed one of the most interactive and successful educational experiences a student could ask for. The extensive professional knowledge that Joni has was demonstrated during every session of class. Her willingness to share her experiences, to work with students to learn and mentor so they may display their talents was proven time and time again. Joni displays the talent of a great leader, amazing mentor and most importantly she has the compassion to share her experience to help others grow.
John Lasch, MBA, MAFM, Analyst, Deutsche Bank
Joni Roberts is a visionary with the knowledge and skills to be a powerful influence for good. Her style is warm and heart-centered as she informs and inspires. She has the gift of being able to plant seeds of possibility into the minds of those she encounters. We are blessed to have her as a guide and mentor on our path to living our bliss.
Dolph Kiser, RScP, Certified Spiritual Practitioner
Joni is an inspired voice for transformation of the global economy into something much more human and democratic. Thank you, Joni!
Paul B., Teacher, Educational Collective
Joni is masterful at eliciting your heart's purpose and helping you create a business from it.
Carolyn Messere, MD, Founder, Soul Deep Wellness
Created with