• DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING | TALENT CATALYST | LAWYER & ADVISOR
  • I am…

an executive coach and board advisor that supports high performing individuals and organizations in achieving self-mastery in their pursuit of excellence through rituals and practices.

  • Principal

Bendita Cynthia Malakia, ESQ., CPC, ELI-MP

Executive coach
Board advisor
Lawyer
People strategist
Culture cultivator

Ambitions for the Future-Now

Bendita loves the synergy and possibility that results from the uniqueness of all people utilizing their strengths to achieve excellence individually and institutionally.

People, Passion, Profession

Bendita Cynthia Malakia (any/all) is a talent cultivation and leadership executive whose aim is to ensure that individuals and institutions that strive for excellence can thrive. She currently leads diversity and engagement at a global law firm and coaches executives and board members to achieve their ambitions through her consultancy.

Bendita has served as a finance lawyer in a large law firm and in-house at International Finance Corporation and Goldman Sachs. She subsequently supported mid-size law firms in solving complex, bespoke talent challenges and was global Chief D&I Officer at an AmLaw 10 firm. A certified coach for over two decades, Bendita uses her legal leadership experiences and her identity as a Black fat fluid bisexual woman to help both individual and institutional clients win through self-mastery.

Bendita is a prolific writer, speaker, and educator on leadership, strategy, culture, self-management and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). She is Vice President of DE&I at the National Association of Law Placement, serves on the board of directors for Lambda Legal and Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, and is a Past President of the National LGBTQ+ Bar. She was a founding advisor for Keep Company, a startup that leverages coaching to create high-performing cultures while reducing burnout. A natural educator, Bendita trains coaches to coach and previously co-taught a leadership course for lawyers at Howard University School of Law.

Bendita graduated from Harvard Law School and Barnard College of Columbia University. She has been recognized for innovative cultural strategies and for being a global DE&I leader that other DE&I leaders admire. In 2022, her high school placed Bendita on its Wall of Distinction in recognition of her support for the leadership of CEOs, government officials, and leaders across industries. Find Bendita at www.linkedin.com/in/bendita

LEARN MORE ABOUT MALAKIA INTERIOR ATELIER​

Testimonials

Bendita is the first person I go to when planning any career move. In 2012-2013, Bendita spent months advising and guiding me and ultimately helped me to make a difficult decision to leave my former firm. Because of her advice and guidance, I joined a new one that was a much better fit for me. I’m now a partner at an AMLaw 100 firm and will always be grateful to Bendita for her unconditional help and coaching.
-Rabeha K
Malakia Movement LLC has been extremely instrumental in my preparation for a career transition. I was given useful tips on how to navigate the ever-changing dynamics of obtaining gainful employment. I was also provided with useful courses of action I could use immediately in my search. Bendita Malakia provided one on one support for personal growth and resume building. She provides timely feedback and great concepts in presenting your best self. If you are seeking growth exponentially on a professional and personal level, Malakia Movement LLC delivers!
-Jennifer C
Bendita Malakia’s assistance with my resume and cover letter helped me to secure jobs on two separate occasions (once with a law firm and once with the government). She took the time to provide detailed, line-by-line feedback, asking the right questions to make sure the final products were accurate but also detailed and reflective of my experiences. The result was a polished product that made me shine and that I was proud to submit. Working with her also increased my confidence which resulted in interviews I felt good about and that ultimately resulted in job offers.
-Sairah S
Ms. Malakia was incredibly prompt, precise and helpful. She responded to my emails very quickly and throughout the day, and her feedback was both personalized and helpful. I would certainly recommend her, especially if you feel shaky about your career services department.
-Anthony T
I was uncertain about investing in an executive coach but I cannot thank you enough. This is exactly what I needed and right on time! Thank you!
-Jay H
Bendita Malakia was professional, patient, courteous, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. I cannot think of anything that could have gone better—she exceeded my expectations and despite my years of experience as a senior public health expert I learned from her.
-Karen B
Bendita’s coaching is dynamic and authentic!
-Senior associate at Top 10 Law Firm
Bendita’s coaching is “transformative” and moved me to fully embrace my leadership potential and direct change.
-Deputy general counsel for a $250M+ Revenue Energy Company
Bendita’s coaching provides a shift that is truly life changing.
-Independent middle school principal
Bendita’s large law firm and in-house counsel experience is instrumental in her ability to fully understand the diversity and inclusion challenges that legal organizations face.
-Chief Diversity Partner of an AmLaw 100 Firm
Bendita truly made a major impact on me both personally and as a job applicant. I appreciate it more than you know!! … I thank her for being so supportive and encouraging–she never let me get away with criticizing myself or letting things get to me too much, which I needed from someone much more than I realized. I will undoubtedly use the things she taught me moving forward–frankly, she taught so much more about myself as a person than I anticipated, and I’m so grateful for that!
-Caitlin C