About
Counsel.
Strategy.
Impact.
Toni Newborn founded 1981 Strategies with a clear purpose: to help organizations do better by their people. From HR consulting and workplace investigations to executive strategy support and training, every service is rooted in purpose, integrity, and a deep commitment to fairness.
Toni is a human resources executive, attorney, and equity strategist whose career has been driven by a simple belief: that people are the heart of every organization. With more than 15 years of public sector leadership, she has dedicated her work to building workplaces where people are treated fairly, systems work equitably, and leaders are equipped to do their best.
Most recently, Toni served as Director of Talent and Equity Resources for the City of Saint Paul, leading a 50-person HR team across all facets of workforce strategy, from labor relations and talent development to compliance, classification, and equity. She was a trusted advisor to the Mayor's Office and City Council on the organization's most complex people challenges.
From 2018 to 2023, Toni had the honor of serving as Saint Paul's first-ever Chief Equity Officer, embedding equity into the fabric of city operations and championing systemic change that made a real difference in people's lives. Toni also contributed to the gubernatorial transition team of Governor Tim Walz and the mayoral transition team of Mayor Melvin Carter III.
Before Saint Paul, Toni spent seven years at the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, where she led the Complaint Investigation Division, overseeing discrimination investigations under Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA, and ensuring that every person who came forward was heard and treated with dignity.
Today, through 1981 Strategies, Toni brings that same commitment to the organizations she serves, helping leaders grow, systems strengthen, and workplaces become more fair for everyone.