WHO IS KENNETH ALLEN BASHAM III
A Life Rooted in Purpose, Growth, and Connection
Kenneth Basham is the author of The Presenteeism Answer Guide: Handy Insights for Leaders, the creator of Presence Over Presenteeism™, and one of the most distinctive voices in workforce development, institutional culture, and civic engagement working today.
With over twenty years of experience across Fortune 500 HR environments, workforce development systems, and civic leadership, Kenneth has built a body of work that does not fit neatly into a single category... because the problem he resolves doesn't either. Presenteeism; the condition of showing up physically while withdrawing mentally, emotionally, and socially, exists in every sector, at every level, and in every community. Kenneth has spent his career building the language, the frameworks, and the system to address it.
His six original frameworks — P=EMS, MIA, PACT, POV, the Three T's, and R&B — are the intellectual foundation of The Presenteeism Answer Guide and the basis for his keynotes, workshops, consulting engagements, and licensing work. As a TEDx speaker, Workforce Development Specialist, and Presence Strategist, he brings this system to corporate leadership teams, universities, workforce agencies, school districts, and civic institutions—wherever alignment has fractured and human potential is being quietly stored rather than expressed.
His personal experience with presenteeism began in a speech therapy room at age seven — learning what it felt like to be physically present but internally withdrawn, to have something to say and no confidence that it would connect. That experience is not just a footnote in his biography. It is the origin of every framework, every question, and every answer in his work.
Kenneth Offstage: Wellness, Movement, and Civic Purpose
As a multi-discipline athlete and lifelong vegan, Kenneth lives what he teaches, prioritizing balance, movement, and meaningful participation in every aspect of his life. Whether he's completing marathons, playing tennis, writing poetry, or studying chess, his commitment to wellness extends beyond philosophy, it's active, visible, and deeply personal.
Beyond his professional work, Kenneth is the founder of Fathers Advocating Civic Engagement (F.A.C.E.), a civic initiative dedicated to strengthening families, communities, and institutions by cultivating meaningful participation, shared responsibility, and generational leadership. Through F.A.C.E., he champions civic participation and active presence, helping people across generations rediscover their role as leaders, mentors, and catalysts for change.
A Journey Shaped by Purpose at Every Stage
From being named Defensive Player of the Year in junior college basketball to earning recognition as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and graduating first-generation with honors, Kenneth's academic journey was defined by a willingness to show up fully in environments that were not always designed with him in mind.
His volunteer work has taken him across the globe — from international missionary efforts in Uganda to humanitarian work in the Middle East — shaping a profound and personal understanding of what it means to be present in the fullest sense: not just physically, but purposefully, culturally, and emotionally aligned with the communities one serves.
Through the Presence Over Presenteeism™ framework and The Presenteeism Answer Guide, Kenneth now brings that understanding to leaders and organizations ready to build cultures where every person who shows up can truly thrive.
