Speakers
Check out our exciting lineup for 20th Annual Diversity & Leadership Conference 2024 below!
Keynote Speakers
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Johnson
Johnson
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate that provides high-quality products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities. Having left the basketball court for the boardroom, Johnson parlayed the skills and tenacity he acquired on the court into a winning formula for his successful business ventures. For the last two decades Johnson has consistently turned heads with his unprecedented partnerships. In his early years as an entrepreneur, he forged an alliance with Sony Pictures to develop Magic Johnson Theatres. In 1998, he teamed with Starbucks to become the only franchisee in the history of the company, acquiring and eventually selling 125 stores in a lucrative move which further solidified his position in the business world. Both ventures served as catalysts for redevelopment in urban communities, and are widely recognized as the corporate blueprint for engagement and success with urban consumers across America. Still a commanding presence in the sports world, he made history in 2012 when he became co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball franchise that was purchased for an astronomical $2 billion dollars. It was the highest purchase price for any professional sports team at the time. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club, and eSports franchise Team Liquid. Johnson continues to expand his influence through a number of other investments. He currently has controlling interests in EquiTrust, a multi-billion financial services company, and SodexoMAGIC, a food service and facilities management company. The Lansing native is constantly evolving and remaining relevant in a dynamic digital age by broadening his scope into infrastructure and technology. In 2015, Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital formed an alliance to create MJE-Loop Capital Partners. The firm raised a fund committed to investing millions of dollars on infrastructure improvement in the United States. In 2022, Johnson released his first non-fungible token project with Dapper Labs, leading the first ever successful Anthropology set in company history. He is currently expanding his business acumen into the metaverse, announcing his investment and ownership of a football and basketball team with SimWin Sports. He is also one of the leading investors in a number of minority-owned technology companies that include Uncharted Power, an award-winning power and data infrastructure technology company and Jopwell, a diversity and hiring recruiting platform. The accomplishments and global impact of Earvin “Magic” Johnson are on display in They Call Me Magic, the only first-person account of Johnson’s life from childhood to business. The AppleTV+ project was the top selling documentary series per episode when released in 2022. Johnson currently serves on the board of directors for Fanatics, a sports licensing company. With his unique positioning as a businessman spanning multiple industries and generations, he aims to help companies expand and foster a positive impact domestically and globally.
Clinton
Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton has served as secretary of state, senator from New York, first lady of the United States, first lady of Arkansas, a practicing lawyer and law professor, activist, and volunteer—but the first thing her friends and family will tell you is that she’s never forgotten where she came from or who she’s been fighting for. Hillary grew up in a middle-class home in Park Ridge, a suburb of Chicago. Her dad, Hugh, was a World War II Navy veteran and a small-business owner who designed, printed, and sold drapes. Hugh was a rock-ribbed Republican, a pay-as-you-go kind of guy who worked hard and wasted nothing. Hillary helped with the family business whenever she could. Hillary’s mother, Dorothy, had a tough childhood. She was abandoned by her parents as a young child and shipped off to live with relatives who didn’t want to raise her. By age 14, Dorothy knew the only way she’d get by was to support herself, and she started working as a housekeeper and babysitter while she went to high school. Her mother’s experience inspired Hillary to fight for the needs of children everywhere. Hillary’s childhood was very different from her mother’s. Her parents built a stable middle-class life. Hillary attended public school and was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. She was raised a Methodist, and her mother taught Sunday school. On a trip to Chicago with her youth ministry, Hillary got to see Martin Luther King Jr. speak—this sparked her lifelong passion for social justice. After graduating high school, Hillary attended Wellesley College, where she became more involved with social justice activism. By the time she graduated, Hillary had become a prominent student leader—she was elected by her peers to be the first-ever student speaker at Wellesley’s commencement ceremony. After college, Hillary enrolled in Yale Law School, where she was one of just 27 women in her graduating class. While attending Yale, Hillary began dating one of her classmates, Bill Clinton. After law school, Hillary didn’t join a big law firm in Washington or New York. Instead, she went to work for the Children’s Defense Fund, going door-to-door in New Bedford, Massachusetts, gathering stories about the lack of schooling for children with disabilities. These testimonials contributed to the passage of historic legislation that required the state to provide quality education for students with disabilities. This commitment to public service and fighting for others—especially children and families—has stayed with her throughout her life. After serving as a lawyer for the congressional committee investigating President Nixon, she moved to Arkansas where she taught law and ran legal clinics representing disenfranchised people. She co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, one of the state’s first child advocacy groups. On October 11, 1975, Hillary married Bill in a small ceremony in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As first lady of Arkansas, she was a forceful champion for improving educational standards and health care access. And she and Bill started their own family when their daughter, Chelsea, was born in 1980. Bill was first elected president in 1992 and re-elected in 1996. As first lady, Hillary tenaciously led the fight to reform our health care system so that all families would have access to the care they need at affordable prices. When the insurance companies and other special interests defeated that effort, Hillary didn’t give up. She worked with Republicans and Democrats to help create the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health coverage to more than 8 million children and has helped cut the uninsured rate for children in half. In 1995, Hillary led the U.S. delegation to Beijing to attend the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women, despite being told by some officials not to go. She gave a groundbreaking speech, declaring that “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights once and for all”—inspiring women around the world. In 2000, Hillary was elected to the U.S. Senate. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary pushed the Bush administration to secure $20 billion to rebuild New York and fought to provide health care for responders who were at Ground Zero. Hillary worked across the aisle to expand TRICARE, giving members of the Reserves and National Guard and their families better access to health care. When Congress wouldn’t do enough for rural areas and small towns, Hillary didn’t back down. She launched an innovative partnership in New York with eBay and local colleges to provide small businesses with tech support, microloans, and training programs to sell their goods online. She helped expand broadband to remote areas of the state, and she launched Farm-to-Fork, an initiative to help New York farmers and producers sell their products to New York’s restaurants, schools, colleges, and universities. In 2008, Hillary ran for president. When she came up short, she gave a powerful speech thanking her supporters and threw her support behind then-Senator Barack Obama. She campaigned hard to make sure there was a Democrat in the White House. And when President Obama asked Hillary to serve as his secretary of state, she put aside their hard-fought campaign and answered the call to public service once again. After eight years of Bush foreign policy, Hillary was instrumental in the effort to restore America’s standing in the world. Even former Republican Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said she “ran the State Department in the most effective way that I’ve ever seen.” She built a coalition for tough new sanctions against Iran that brought them to the negotiating table and she brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that ended a war and protected Israel’s security. She was a forceful champion for human rights, internet freedom, and rights and opportunities for women and girls, LGBT people, and young people all around the globe. In 2014, Hillary took on a new role: grandmother to Chelsea’s daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky. In 2016, she welcomed her grandson, Aidan Clinton Mezvinsky, to the family, too. Nothing makes her prouder or happier than spending time with them. Hillary ran for president in 2016, championing her belief that Americans are stronger together. In July 2016, she became the first woman to earn a major party’s nomination for president, and went on to earn 66 million votes. In her concession speech on November 9, 2016, she called on supporters to “never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” Inspired by the widespread activism after the election, Hillary founded Onward Together, an organization that works to advance progressive values by encouraging people to organize, get involved, and run for office.
Castro
Castro
Julián Castro was sworn in as the 16th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on July 28, 2014. In this role, Castro oversees 8,000 employees and a budget of $46 billion, using a performance-driven approach to achieve the Department's mission of expanding opportunity for all Americans. As Secretary, Castro's focus is ensuring that HUD is a transparent, efficient and effective champion for the people it serves. Utilizing an evidence-based management style, he has charged the Department with one goal: giving every person, regardless of their station in life, new opportunities to thrive. Before HUD, Castro served as Mayor of the City of San Antonio. During his tenure, he became known as a national leader in urban development. In 2010, the City launched the “Decade of Downtown,” an initiative to spark investment in San Antonio's center city and older neighborhoods. This effort has attracted $350 million in private sector investment, which will produce more than 2400 housing units by the end of 2014. In addition, San Antonio's East Side is the only neighborhood in America that has received funding to implement major projects under three key Obama Administration revitalization initiatives: Choice Neighborhoods, Promise Neighborhoods and the Byrne Criminal Justice Program. In March 2010, Castro was named to the World Economic Forum's list of Young Global Leaders. Later that year, Time magazine placed him on its “40 under 40” list of rising stars in American politics. Previously, Castro served as a member of the San Antonio City Council. He is also an attorney and worked at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld before starting his own practice. Secretary Castro received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1996, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000. He and his wife, Erica, have a daughter, Carina.
Holder, Jr.
Holder, Jr.
Eric H. Holder, Jr. serves as Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Mr. Holder is an internationally recognized leader on a broad range of legal issues and a staunch advocate for civil rights. He served in the Obama Administration as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States from February 2009 to April 2015, the third longest-serving Attorney General in U.S. history and the first African American to hold that office. Under Mr. Holder’s leadership, civil rights, including voting rights, were a top priority at the Justice Department. Mr. Holder vigorously defended voting rights, including the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He criticized politically motivated voter ID laws that were designed to suppress minority and youth votes, and he led the Justice Department’s efforts to overturn these laws around the country. Including his tenure as Attorney General, Mr. Holder served in government for more than thirty years, having been appointed to various positions requiring U.S. Senate confirmation by Presidents Obama, Clinton, and Reagan. He began his legal career at the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Justice Department. In 1988, President Reagan appointed him to serve as a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In 1993, Mr. Holder stepped down from the bench to accept an appointment from President Clinton as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. He held that position until he became the first African-American Deputy Attorney General in 1997. From 2001 until his confirmation as Attorney General, Mr. Holder was a partner at Covington & Burling LLP, where he advised clients on complex investigations and litigation matters. He rejoined the firm in 2015. In 2014, Time magazine named Mr. Holder to its list of 100 Most Influential People, noting that he had “worked tirelessly to ensure equal justice.” The National Legal Aid & Defender Association has honored him with the Justice John Paul Stevens Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership in bolstering civil rights and access to justice. The National Urban League named him a recipient of their Living Legend award. Mr. Holder was also awarded the NAACP’s Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a member of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s National Board of Directors. Mr. Holder was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up in East Elmhurst, Queens. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from Columbia University.
West
West
Dr. Cornel West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. West teaches on the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as well as courses in Philosophy of Religion, African American Critical Thought, and a wide range of subjects -- including but by no means limited to, the classics, philosophy, politics, cultural theory, literature, and music. He has a passion to communicate to a vast variety of publics in order to keep alive the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. – a legacy of telling the truth and bearing witness to love and justice. Dr. West is the former Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. Cornel West graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in three years and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy at Princeton. He has written 20 books and has edited 13. He is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. Dr. West has partnered with MasterClass.com to provide teachings on several influential courses including a class with Pharrell Williams on Empathy, MasterClass’s first-ever multi-instructor class on Black History, Black Freedom & Black Love, as well as Dr. West’s standalone class on Philosophy. Visit www.cornelwest.com and click the MasterClass banner to learn more.
Garza
Garza
Rudy D. Garza is the President & CEO of CPS Energy, the nation’s largest community-owned electric and natural gas utility. He is the first Hispanic leader to hold the position. Rudy has more than 25 years of experience as a leader in the utility industry and has served in both the public and private sectors over the course of his career. Rudy successfully led the company through the approval of two rate cases in 2022 and 2023. He also led the comprehensive strategic engagement plan for Board of Trustee approval of a blended generation planning approach to power our growing community now and in the future. To deliver on CPS Energy’s mission to serve our community, Rudy developed a strategic plan called Vision 2027, a roadmap to guide CPS Energy through the rapid transformation of the utility industry. Rudy joined CPS Energy in 2012 and previously served as Chief Customer & Stakeholder Engagement Officer and as Senior Vice President of Distribution Service & Operations where he oversaw the maintenance and construction activity of the electric distribution system. He also served the company in the role of Vice President of External Relations. Rudy has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas. He continues to serve his Austin alma mater as an Engineering Advisory Board member for the Cockrell School of Electrical Engineering. Rudy is dedicated to public service and is actively engaged in his community through multiple board roles, including the Brooks Development Authority, greater:SATX, United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, and the Large Public Power Council.
Chandrasekaran
Chandrasekaran
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Speakers
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Arrington
Arrington
Mrs. Arrington is a Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer in the Ares Human Resources Department, and partners with the firm's DEI Council to advance Ares' strategy to attract, develop, engage and advance diverse talent within an inclusive, welcoming environment, along with advance equity in the broader alternative asset management industry. Mrs. Arrington also serves as an advisor to support DEI initiatives at portfolio companies across Ares' investment strategies. Prior to joining Ares in 2021, Mrs. Arrington served as a Senior Vice President and Head of Targeted Sourcing at Wells Fargo & Company, where she provided leadership in the strategic planning and execution of diversity sourcing initiatives and programs for the firm. Previously, Mrs. Arrington held several senior roles at The Bank of America Corporation within the Global Diversity and Inclusion Organization. In addition, she was an Equity Derivatives Sales Trader at Morgan Stanley. Mrs. Arrington began her career as a Financial Analyst at CIT Group. She serves on the Board of Directors of Poly Prep, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP). Mrs. Arrington holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Rutgers University in Economics and an M.B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Business. Mrs. Arrington is a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow, a Toigo Fellow and an INROADS alum. She is a Cornell University Certified Diversity Professional/Advanced Practitioner (CCDP/AP) and a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), PRIMER Network and the Council of Urban Professionals.
Ayala
Ayala
Baker
Baker
Tamika Baker is a c-suite executive who has a passion for leadership development, culture transformation and strategy. Most currently, she served as Chief Risk and Responsibility Officer for Regional Management, where she built out the organization's first ESG and corporate responsibility program. Additionally, her leadership led to the implementation of the organization's first ERM program and the creation of an automated repository leveraged for strategic planning. Prior to joining Regional, Tamika spent five years as the Chief Strategy Officer for Firstmark Credit Union where she led the marketing, risk management, and cyber security teams, while spearheading strategic planning and product development initiatives for the organization. Tamika is honored to be a speaker for various leadership conferences, and was recognized as one of National Diversity's Power50 honorees in 2022 and 2023 (https://power50.org/2023). Her leadership mantra is: “If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you.”
Baptiste
Baptiste
Sabrina is a distinguished and forward-thinking Human Resources executive, licensed attorney, and operational systems thinker. She brings over fifteen years of extensive professional development, talent management, and employee engagement experience helping organizations break through and elevate the enterprise to another level. She is recognized as a human resource subject matter expert, servant leader, and sought-after speaker presenting nationally on topics related to racial equity in the workplace.
Beato
Beato
Singleton Beato is the Global EVP, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at McCann Worldgroup, where she is responsible for designing and leading strategic initiatives that increase organizational capacity, innovation and growth. With over 25 years of experience as an accomplished executive, Singleton is recognized for her success driving large scale people and organizational change initiatives across a wide range of industries, having held talent leadership roles at J. Walter Thompson, Crunch Fitness International, and Bloomberg L.P. Previously, Singleton was EVP, Diversity Strategy and Talent Development at the 4A’s where she provided leadership and advice to senior advertising and media agency executives working to create and activate a strategic approach to D&I. Singleton was the visionary and architect of high-profile initiatives including The Face Of Talent symposium and the Ad industry’s only Talent Leadership Conference, Talent@2030. She also led the transformation of the renowned Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) and the 4A’s Foundation. And, after assuming P&L responsibility for Talent Development and Diversity related revenue streams, Singleton consistently delivered on revenue and margin growth targets for the organization. Singleton received a MS from Fairleigh Dickinson University and serves on several non-profit boards including the Brand Erwin Center for Brand Communications, AdWeek’s D&I Council, the AAF’s Mosaic Council, NYWICI, Own The Room and Figure Skating in Harlem as well as the Advisory Board of the Brand + Integrated Communications program. She has received numerous awards and accolades from the AAF, the 4A’s, the ADCOLOR Coalition, the National Diversity Council, the World Diversity Leadership Summit. Additionally, Singleton was named one of 2019’s Most Influential Women In Corporate America by Savoy Magazine, one of AdWeek’s 2020 Women Trailblazers and one of New York’s Most Outstanding Corporate Citizens.
Bhatia
Bhatia
With an impressive track record of 58 FDA clearances, Parminder has been instrumental in driving the integration of AI into medical devices at GE HealthCare, with a clear strategic vision aimed at enhancing patient care and outcomes. His achievements have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by his recognition as one of the top 10 Chief AI Officers, highlighting his significant influence and forward-thinking approach in the industry. Parminder's expertise extends beyond his tenure at GE HealthCare, with notable contributions during his time at Amazon, where he led machine learning efforts for Generative AI technologies akin to Chat GPT. His diverse experiences have enriched his understanding of AI technologies and their applications in healthcare, leading to groundbreaking innovations that have revolutionized clinical decision-making and patient care in the field of cancer treatment as well as his contributions during Covid. Parminder's commitment to advancing healthcare extends globally, as demonstrated by initiatives like the Caption Guidance product, which aims to provide efficient ultrasound assessments to healthcare professionals worldwide, particularly emphasizing accessibility in low-and-middle income countries (LMIC).
Boone
Boone
Christopher P. Boone, Ph.D., is a global executive, strategist, professor, and social scientist with a unique passion for revolutionizing healthcare and life sciences through clinical research informatics, real-world evidence, and health equity. As the Group Vice President of Life Sciences Research Services at Oracle Corporation, Chris steers the function responsible for conducting research that accelerates the discovery, development, and deployment of extraordinary insights and therapies to help transform healthcare and improve patients’ lives. His academic contributions as an adjunct assistant professor at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service further amplify his impact. Chris's career is marked by significant leadership roles, including his tenure at AbbVie as Vice President and Global Head of Health Economics & Outcomes Research and at Pfizer, where he spearheaded departments focusing on epidemiology, big data analysis, and real-world data and analytics. These roles underline his expertise in harnessing data for healthcare transformation. His leadership and innovative thinking have been widely recognized. Chris is an inducted member of the Executive Leadership Council and features in The DataIQ 100 Most Influential People in Data. He has received the Top 50 Leadership Excellence Award and has been acknowledged as a Global Top 100 Innovator in Data & Analytics. His recognition as an Emerging Pharma Leader and a Top 40 Under 40 Leader in Health underscores his influential role in shaping healthcare policies and strategies. Chris’s influence extends to his appointments on several national committees focused on health data and patient-centric approaches. His current roles include serving on the Board of Governors for PCORI, the Board of Directors for Global Medical Response, and advisory positions with Mango Sciences and TrialBee. His past contributions span diverse healthcare sectors, including the Stewards of Change Institute, the Patient Advocate Foundation, and various committees under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Educationally, Chris holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Tulsa, a M.S. in Healthcare Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. His executive certificates from the Harvard Kennedy School further highlight his commitment to professional development. As a Fellow of both the American College of Health Executives and the Healthcare Information Management & Systems Society, Chris exemplifies a lifelong dedication to healthcare excellence and innovation.
Caldwell
Caldwell
In 2021, Dr. Sheila Caldwell was chosen to serve as the inaugural Vice President for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for the Southern Illinois University System. In this role Dr. Caldwell is responsible for coordinating all System diversity and equity programs, non-discrimination policies and equal opportunity compliance matters. Most importantly, she supervises initiatives leading the SIU System toward becoming an antiracist organization. A Chicago native, Caldwell previously served as the inaugural Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer at Wheaton College where she worked to enhance equity, transform culture and improve institutional effectiveness related to diversity. As a collaborator with the college’s senior cabinet, she led efforts to implement, for the first time, a diversity commitment statement, an inclusive hiring process, a gender equity vision statement, a diversity strategic plan as well as a bias policy and bias incident reporting system to improve campus climate. With experiences in both industry and academia, Caldwell previously served as Advisor to the President on diversity at the University of North Georgia, as Director of Complete College Georgia and as the Dual Enrollment Coordinator for the Technical College System of Georgia. She holds a BS in Business Marketing from Northern Illinois University, an MA in Educational Leadership from Argosy University in Atlanta Georgia and EdD in Workforce Education from the University of Georgia. Dr. Caldwell lives in Springfield with her husband Lyndric and daughters, Trinity and Madison.
Campbell
Campbell
During the course of an extensive and rewarding career in the banking and insurance industries, Dave Campbell has the great pleasure of working his way through the ranks to his current position as a Field Vice President at AAA Auto Club Group. In this role, he holds ultimate responsibility for a portfolio worth more than $2 billion in insurance premiums, $200 million in Life revenue, $150 million in travel revenues and a P&L of over $100 million dollars. He focuses his efforts on leading a widely-dispersed, cross-functional team that executes on his strategic plans in order to optimize opportunities for growth. He is truly satisfying to lead, inspire and enhance both employee performance and customer satisfaction. In the course of his career, Dave has had the distinct privilege of leading over 4,000 people, supporting their careers through sound leadership, consistent and relevant coaching and high level goal attainment. He has a passion for development evident in that he has been personally responsible for the promotion and mentorship of hundreds of entrepreneurs, business leaders and corporate executives. Born and raised in New York City, David has lived all across the East Coast, Midwest and South, spending time in New York’s 5 boroughs, Long Island, Texas and Michigan. His career spans almost 20 years serving in roles overseeing Sales, Operations and Distribution in Fortune 100 companies in Banking and Financial Services.
Carbone-Stephens
Carbone-Stephens
Corinna is the Chief Human Resources Officer of VLS Environmental Solutions. She is responsible for developing and executing the human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization, specifically in the areas of talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, training and development and compensation. Before joining VLS, Corinna served as vice president of human resources for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where she was recruited to provide subject matter expertise for organization effectiveness, culture, talent management, and learning and development. Prior to leading the 1,300 people at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, she spent the majority of her career serving in various human resources positions at Eni in locations all across the globe. Eni is an Italian publicly traded integrated energy company. Corinna earned her bachelor’s degree in foreign language and literature at the University of Pisa in Italy and her Master of Business Administration from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University in Houston. She is a certified SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Corinna has been a featured speaker at the Gulf Coast Symposium on HR issues, the LEAP HR Oil and Gas conference, the HR Leaders’ Summit, the Texas Diversity Council, and Rice University.
Carpenter
Carpenter
Carr
Carr
Cecchi
Cecchi
Celeste grew up in Papua New Guinea, and at the age of 18 she moved to Southern California where she did her undergraduate studies. She later moved to Colorado before ending up in the Chicagoland area where she currently lives. After completing her graduate studies in Social Justice and Policy Reform, Celeste worked for a nonprofit developing antiracism curriculum. From there, she founded Mosaic Consulting Services. Mosaic exists to cultivate diverse and inclusive communities and teams by training people to interpret and respond to the culturally defined behaviors of others. Celeste brings her experience, education, and certifications as a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and the Intercultural Intelligence (ICI) to businesses seeking DEI&B training. She does this primarily through individual assessments and coaching, leadership development, and team training. When Celeste isn’t busy fighting injustice or building inclusive communities, she enjoys good food, good books, and hiking in the mountains with her son, husband, and chocolate lab.
Cenac
Cenac
Julianne Robbins Cenac, PhD, is the Chief Operating Officer of Diversity First and the Executive Conference Director of the National Diversity & Leadership Conference. Previously she was the Associate Vice President, Organizational and Talent Development at UT Health Science Center at Houston. Previously, she serveed as the director of learning and development at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and program director for The Leadership Institutes at UTHealth. At UTHealth, Dr. Cenac leads the professional development and leadership development initiatives for the university’s 8,000 faculty and staff. Her 22-year career includes working internationally throughout China, Singapore, India, Qatar, South Africa and the Caribbean as an executive coach, university administrator and management consultant. Dr. Cenac previously served as assistant vice president at Regent University where she led the university’s Professional and Continuing Education Division and oversaw international affairs. Prior to that role, Dr. Cenac served as a senior management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. in McLean, Virginia. There she led and managed projects in strategy and performance for clients including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs among others. Dr. Cenac’s research interests include leadership complexity, leader behavioral repertoire and emergence.
Chan
Chan
Clarke
Clarke
Jair Clarke is the global CTO of Commercial Systems & Analytics Strategy & Operations (leading thousands of team members) across all industries for Microsoft Customers & Partners Solutions $175B+ business. As a global leader, during his time with 4 Fortune 50 companies (Lockheed Martin, IBM, Disney, & Microsoft), he’s had global P&L experience (hundreds of millions of dollars), overseen worldwide innovation, product management, digital transformation, data science, emerging tech & experiences, automation, governance, and more. His executive experience covers a plethora of industries (Health, Financial Services & Insurance, Media & Entertainment, Technology, Retail, Sales, Consumer Products, Public Sector, Cruise Line, and more). He has global P&L responsibility experience and formally held roles as the executive champion of diversity and inclusion. He is a University of Miami alum and helped win a national championship in football.
Cleghorn
Cleghorn
Megan Cleghorn, JD, MBA is the President of Cleghorn Performance Elevation LLC, an elite private-client, leadership development, executive coaching and executive communication company. As a consultant, executive facilitator and executive coach, Megan marries her many years of operational and financial expertise with her passion for empowering current and future leaders with the tools to graduate from Excellent to Superior. Megan also serves as Executive Vice President of the Global Diversity Council, an affiliate of the National Diversity Council, where she works to enlighten minds, reframe perspectives, and expand access to opportunity internationally for diverse talent. Megan was previously the CEO of Request For Relief LLC, a national organizational-wellness consultancy servicing clients facing high-stress business and workplace challenges, including restructurings and post-M&A integration. Prior to leading Cleghorn Performance Elevation and RFR, Megan spent more than a decade at the premier global law firm as a corporate restructuring attorney, advising companies in distressed situations on operational and financial reorganizations as they underwent transformational change. Currently, Megan teaches in the MBA Program and the MBA Program for Executives at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania on topics of Executive Communication, Advanced Persuasion and Crisis Communication. She also presents nationally on topics of Transformational Change, Leadership Empowerment, Advancement of Female Leaders, Inclusion and Organizational Wellness. Megan obtained her B.S. and her J.D. at Duquesne University and her M.B.A. at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Cryer
Cryer
David
David
Carrie transforms businesses by unlocking organizational performance and igniting employee engagement through people and culture strategies. She is an accomplished business leader with over 25 years of proven success across various industries in both large public and privately held companies. Her distinctive approach to leading HR was shaped by a unique career path starting in Finance, with perspective nurtured through several international assignments, and finally by serving in areas outside of HR such as Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Commercialization, & Operations Excellence. Carrie is currently EVP & CHRO for SRS Distribution, a rapidly expanding building products distributor nearing $11B in annual sales. She developed the HR platform to fuel their 2x+ growth over the last three years through the creation of critical people strategies and digitalizing HR processes to adequately scale the business. SRS is consistently a top quartile performer in employee engagement. Previously, Carrie was Head of HR for Sysco’s U.S. Foodservice business, ~$50M in annual sales, where she led a cross-functional team tasked with designing and implementing the biggest operating model change in the company’s recent history. Earlier career experiences include serving as CHRO of the largest U.S. 3rd party hotel management company and leading various HR functional areas that helped deepen her subject matter expertise and refine her strategic business partner skills. Carrie’s career is also characterized by significant global M&A and integration activity. Carrie has an undergraduate degree in finance and a master’s degree in industrial labor relations & human resources management. She is also a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Advanced Executive Human Resources Program, the world’s preeminent program for HR leaders. Carrie serves as an Independent Director on the Board of PE-backed aerospace company, Consolidated Precision Products, and serves on “Raise the Roof,” a charity organization focused on veterans, natural disaster, and local community needs. Carrie has been a speaker at conferences and is a contributing editorialist to Manage HR Magazine. She was previously a recurring guest lecturer at Georgetown University on employee branding, culture, and corporate social responsibility and served on the Cornell University Advisory Board Member for the Center for Innovative Hospitality Labor and Employee Relations.
Delgado
Delgado
Veronica Delgado is a Senior Global Business Leader with expertise in Human Resources, corporate transformation, and nonprofit Boards of Directors. She brings deep experience in total rewards strategy, organizational effectiveness, diversity & inclusion initiatives, talent acquisition and management, and mergers & acquisitions/divestitures. She is a consultant and executive coach in diverse industries across the US. Her most recent roles were at Centuri Group, Inc., a construction firm with 10,000 employees and $2.5 billion in revenue, providing infrastructure solutions to gas and electric providers across the U.S. and Canada; Veronica was the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer/Chief Diversity Officer. She was recruited to the newly created position to create diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) initiatives as part of the Executive Leadership Team and to oversee all HR functions. This follows Veronica’s time as Advisory Officer/Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Workforce Development, and Facilities Administration at Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., a privately held company providing products and services to owners and operators of business jets for corporate and personal air travel. She led the People function for a $2+ billion business across 14 countries with over 2,000 employees and was responsible for global internal communications and facilities. Earlier, Veronica was Principal Officer/Vice President, Human Resources at Aquinas Management Services, a privately held commercial construction organization. As Group Head Global Talent Management for Air Liquide, which supplies industrial gases and services to various industries, including medical, chemical, and electronic manufacturers, Veronica was recruited to lead the new function to drive HR People Development & Succession Planning for 1,5oo high potentials in various plants and corporate functions, and 800 technical experts globally. She managed a multicultural team in Paris, France (French, Austrian, Scottish, Turkish, Russian, Croatian) of six in France and five others in Italy and the U.S. Before this, Veronica was with Kellogg, Brown & Root – Halliburton, a global engineering, construction, and services company supporting the energy, petrochemical, government services, and civil infrastructures sectors. She quickly rose to Director, Global Talent Management. She managed a global team in Iraq, Australia, Great Britain, Indonesia, Mexico, and the U.S., overseeing performance management, talent acquisition, and learning & development systems and processes for approximately 2,000 employees. She also managed the corporate university and colleges with a 200+ leadership, technical, and non-technical courses curriculum and liaised with Texas A&M University for executive classes. Earlier in her career, Veronica was a Human Resources and operational Internal Consultant for MD Anderson Cancer Center, Manager of Organizational Design and Compensation for The Shaw Group, Compensation and Benefits Manager for EATEL, and HR Generalist for ExxonMobil. She has also been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston, Rice University, and the University of Texas Nursing School. Veronica brings extensive Board experience, having served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Dream Soar, Junior Achievement Baton Rouge, and HR Houston and its Compensation Committee, as well as a Member of the Executive Board of Capital Area United Way of Baton Rouge and Family Services of Baton Rouge. She has completed training for Executive Board Members through the Directors Academy. Veronica earned an Executive Master of Business Administration at Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (focusing on Industrial Psychology/Business Administration) from Iowa State University and completed the International High Potential Program for Air Liquide at the London School of Business. She is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and by WorldatWork as a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and a Global Remuneration Professional (GRP). She is a National Member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), SHRM, and WorldatWork and a Member of the Construction People Executive Group (CPEG). She is a Founding Member of Vistage Houston CHRO Executive Key Group. She was named one of the Top 100 Businesswomen in the US in 2022 and Top 20 Businesswomen for Texas by the National Diversity Council in 2015 by the Diversity Council.
Dyson
Dyson
Debbie Dyson is a visionary transformational leader known for inspiring others to unleash their power and potential within to drive impact and sustainable results for great success. Currently, Debbie is CEO for the OneTen organization, previously holding the COO role, which is focused on placing one million black individuals without 4-degrees into family sustaining wages over a period of 10 years. With over 30 years of experience in human capital management, Debbie is focused on scaling the operational infrastructures within OneTen with additional oversite over the strategic, marketing, financial and technology plans. Formerly, Debbie was an executive senior leader reporting into the CEO as President of ADP’s National Account Services, driving large-scale human capital management strategy and transformation to create exceptional outcomes for ADP’s U.S.-based enterprise clients spanning across the globe. Under her leadership, this multi-billion-dollar organization evolved to implement and service rich technology solutions wrapped around quality excellence. By incorporating innovation with a discipline of business process optimization, it allowed the organization to flourish with year over year revenue, retention and operating expense improvements that effectively aligned with the strategic outlook of the future of work for enterprise clients. Debbie has deep experience in other senior executive leadership roles from client quality delivery to business process operations to general management. Debbie was ADP’s Corporate Vice President of Client Experience and Business Transformation, under the CEO as well, where she had direct responsibility for optimization of business processes, global shoring footprints in Manila, India, and Romania, enterprise learning and performance, and company-wide communication. She also served as a Division Vice President and General Manager for the mid-market solutions leading those team to deliver above-plan accelerated revenue growth performance, while simultaneously maintaining high client retention levels and associate engagement. Debbie has appeared in numerous interviews, publications, and other media, and has garnered industry-wide respect and recognition for her art of impact, intention, and inspiration. She was featured on the cover of Black Enterprise magazine as part of a special Women of Power edition. Among her accolades, she was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business two years in a row by the magazine, as well as one of the 300 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America. Debbie has also received recognition from Diversity Inc. and Saavy magazine. She has also been inducted into the Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in San Mateo County, Calif., for recognition of her athletic achievements in high school and college. Throughout her career, Debbie’s passion for engaging and developing people has remained constant. She was actively involved and served as executive sponsor of several ADP business resource groups: Women in Leadership (WIL); Cultivate, a group she co-founded for African American associates and their allies; and Pride, which brings together LGBTQ associates and allies to promote awareness and inclusion. Debbie volunteers with a variety of non-profits and charities focused on breast cancer, heart disease, diversity and inclusion - and of particular significance - empowering, advancing and investing in women worldwide. She is also an avid supporter of the arts, youth education and a longtime animal advocate. She sits on the pubic board of Envoy Global and non-profit boards for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Teach for America (New Jersey). Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Santa Clara University.
Fankah Arthur
Fankah Arthur
Dr. Hilda Fankah-Arthur is the President and Founder of the Centre For Intellectual Excellence (CeFIE Canada), a non-profit organization in Canada. The Centre For Intellectual Excellence is the organizer of the World Diversity in Leadership (WODIL) Conference, which is an annual event that has attracted over five thousand global participants in the last three years. As a prominent leader in the community, Hilda is dedicated to the educational and professional growth and advancement of diverse populations, particularly marginalized people. Hilda’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has been recognized and supported by global leaders such as Julia Gillard, H.E. Dr. Jewel Taylor, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr III. She provides strategic policy advice to the federal government of Canada in her current role and was a great asset in influencing change in her previous role with the Alberta provincial government. Her expertise in applying equity measures in policy and program development, and her research work at the University of Alberta, has positioned her as exceptional in the field. Dr. Fankah-Arthur is a recipient of distinguished academic awards, and her research focuses on areas such as African Indigenous knowledge, Black African immigrants, Black African identities and education, and Canada’s multiculturalism. Her recent research looked at the influence of African Indigenous knowledge on the identities and education of Black African Immigrant Graduate Students within Canada’s multiculturalism. Hilda’s life-work is dedicated to understanding and enhancing the experiences of diverse populations, which solidifies her status as an influential advocate for more inclusive policies and practices.
Fiddler
Fiddler
G. Scott Fiddler is a commercial litigator and labor & employment attorney with over 25 years of experience representing clients in wage & hour disputes, wrongful termination, discrimination, and non-compete agreement matters, as well as general labor & employment law. Scott is board certified in both labor & employment law and civil trial law, placing him among approximately 25 attorneys in Texas board certified in both specialties. An accomplished litigator, Scott’s resume is one of impressive wins in jury trials and published cases. He is recognized for his work by his peers and publications alike, having been featured in the attorney profile sections of Forbes and Newsweek. In 2019, Scott closed the doors on his namesake Houston firm, Fiddler & Associates, P.C., to join the labor & employment practice of Jackson Walker’s Houston office. At his previous firm, Scott and his team of attorneys advised employers and represented them in litigation in state and federal courts in employment and commercial litigation, while also representing executives in severance and employment agreement disputes.
Fields
Fields
David Fields is a senior business executive and public company board member with 30 years of experience leading operations, administration, and legal affairs for major companies with large-scale branded real estate holdings encompassing retail and entertainment, residential, office and hotel. He has served as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner to CEOs and has been a dedicated advocate for diversity. Fields is a member of the board of directors of CBL Properties (NYSE: CBL), an owner and operator of regional shopping malls, outlet centers, open-air centers and other properties comprising approximately 59.5 million square feet across 24 states. He is a member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for which he serves as Chair. Fields is also a member of the board of directors of EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP), a self-administered real estate investment trust with a portfolio of approximately 57 million square feet of industrial property located in major Sunbelt markets across the United States. He is a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees. In addition to his board leadership, Fields has served, since 2014, as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Sunset Development Company—developer of Bishop Ranch, located in East Bay San Francisco and home to 500 businesses along with retail, entertainment and plans for more than 10,000 residential homes. He is a corporate officer overseeing administration, human resources, technology, legal affairs and the company’s major transactions while collaborating with ownership toward continued growth and organizational effectiveness. Prior to Sunset Development, Fields was an executive at both The Irvine Company in Newport Beach, California and at Bayer Properties in Birmingham, Alabama from which he joined Sunset. At Bayer, Fields served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer advising on strategic planning and future growth while leading several departments including construction, IT and human resources. He also had profit and loss responsibility for Asset Management encompassing more than 9 million square feet of retail and mixed-use projects across the country. At Irvine, Fields served as Vice President and General Counsel for the retail division of one of California’s largest privately held companies. He was a member of the division’s senior management team directing the development and management of all commercial retail sites on the company’s 90,000-acre holding, ultimately tripling the portfolio with the nation’s premier retailers. Fields has also served as a member of numerous non-profit boards encompassing a wide range of national, state and local institutions. These board affiliations have included the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the Birmingham Museum of Art Endowment, Children’s Hospital of Alabama (one of the largest pediatric medical facilities in the United States), Sage Hill School (Founding Board Member), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He is a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (the Boulé). Fields is an avid long-distance cyclist and enjoys writing and speaking. He published an op-ed in the July 8, 2020 San Francisco Chronicle entitled “Three generations of a Black family: from Louisiana to Harvard Yard to the Bay Area.” He was a speaker at the National Diversity Council’s 2021 California state conference and at the 2020 SAP/Ernst & Young Annual Black Executive Roundtable in Silicon Valley. In 2020, the California Diversity Council recognized Fields as one of Northern California’s Top 50 Diverse Leaders. Fields earned his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Karla, have three children.
Fiori
Fiori
Fletcher
Fletcher
Fordham
Fordham
Frazer-Haynesworth
Frazer-Haynesworth
Carol Frazer Haynesworth is a wife, mother, Inclusion leader, marketing and advertising executive, philanthropist, and published author of Coauthor of Your Great Destiny. She serves as Head of Multicultural Strategy & Inclusion at Carmichael Lynch (CL). She was recently appointed as Global Chair of IPG Women's Leadership Network (WLN) by the IPG Corporate Executive team. At CL she is responsible for the implementation of equity and inclusion efforts in the workplace, and multicultural strategy across a remarkable portfolio of clients. She has a strong background both in marketing and targeting multicultural audiences. As the Global Chair of WLN, she leads and manages global initiatives across all agencies and regions in an effort to provide strategic and sustainable support to women within the IPG network. She also leads WLN industry and community efforts, such as the development and implementation of the UN Women media/advertising accountability framework in partnership with UNStereotype Alliance to be unveiled at the United Nations, February 2024. Throughout her professional life she has led marketing initiatives for Time Warner (U.S., Latin America and United Kingdom), Mattel, Meredith Corporation, and The Economist. She has led national Diversity and Equity efforts for Teach For America, has served as a Senior Consultant for NBCUniversal’s Corporate Social Responsibility, and most recently served as Vice President, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at IPG Mediabrands. At IPG Mediabrands, she led Ulta Beauty’s successful strategy and investment into the competitive multicultural space. She has a passion to inspire everyone to engage in community and equity advocacy.
Fuller
Fuller
With over two decades of dedicated service in the entertainment industry, Annabel Fuller has consistently driven transformative change and championed inclusivity, particularly within the realm of customer care. Currently occupying the role of Vice President of Customer Care at Paramount, she leads the charge in forging strategic partnerships and harnesses her expertise in streaming media to elevate customer satisfaction and engagement to new heights. Prior to her current position, Ms. Fuller held pivotal leadership roles at Showtime Networks Inc., where her tenure included serving as Vice President of Customer Care and Director of Tele-Services. Throughout her illustrious career, she has been a tireless advocate for operational efficiency, continuous process improvement, and fostering high-performance teams. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized through accolades such as the CBS “Share-the-Vision” Award and the esteemed “Top 50 Leaders in Entertainment” distinction from the National Diversity Council, both acknowledging her profound impact on the industry. Ms. Fuller is a proud alumna of the University of Arkansas, where she earned her bachelor's degree in economics. She is also an active member of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in customer experiences across all consumer touchpoints. Beyond her professional commitments, Ms. Fuller remains deeply committed to philanthropy, devoting her time to volunteer initiatives focused on poverty alleviation and economic empowerment, reflecting her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact within her community.
Gupta
Gupta
Vishal Gupta is senior vice president and chief information and technology officer for Lexmark International. He leads global information technology, software development, data science, corporate strategy, and Lexmark Ventures in a unified Connected Technology and Ventures team responsible for making connections — between customers, employees, products and strategy. His organization ensures alignment from strategic direction through software offer delivery, focusing on leveraging emerging technologies such as cloud, IoT, AI and data analytics to deliver outstanding customer outcomes. Gupta joined Lexmark as CITO in February 2021, bringing extensive technology leadership experience. Prior to joining Lexmark, Gupta was global chief technology officer and senior vice president of Products and Platforms for Unisys Corporation, where he led a team of more than 1,500 engineers and drove innovation through emerging technologies including cloud and AI. Gupta has also held senior technology leadership roles with Symantec Corporation, Silent Circle LLC, and Cisco Systems. Gupta holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India, a master’s degree in computer engineering from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he was recognized as a Palmer Scholar. Gupta is a member of the Forbes Technology council, Wall Street Journal CIO council, and founding board member of WashingtonExec CTO council. He is a frequent technology conference speaker.
Hargrove
Hargrove
Arquella Hargrove brings a successful 25+year track record of creating and implementing productivity-inducing practices through the application of strategic planning and organizational development in both the public and private sectors. She has supported both established organizations and entrepreneurial ventures advising them through their stages of creation, growth, and stabilization. As the CEO of Epic Collaborative Advisors, she helps business leaders build stronger, more effective teams and companies. Valued for providing her clients with a set of principles on workforce development, diversity & inclusion strategies, EEO and company-wide codes of ethics and policies to build their capacity. Arquella has had the opportunity to impact many leaders, including through the Certified Public Manager (CPM), a nationally accredited program, which exemplifies recognized standards for excellence in public management and leadership. Arquella is a sought-after facilitator, business consultant, speaker, and coach dedicated to the transformative and sustainable results of business leaders. A moderator and frequent panel speaker in the areas of diversity & inclusion, women in leadership, and social capital, as well as, a contributor to publications such as Workforce Magazine. Arquella was named one of Houston’s Most Influential Women by Dmars Magazine in 2019. Arquella holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Ottawa University and an Executive MBA from Texas Woman’s University. Arquella is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown and Lonestar Community College. Certifications include: - SHRM-CP (HR) - PHR – Professional in HR - Certified Master Coach - Certified Crucial Conversations Practitioner - Certified DDI Facilitator - Certified Unconscious Bias Practitioner - Certified Practitioner for Multiple Personality Assessments-Birkman, DISC, Insights, MBTI, Personalysis - Certified Mediator “Arquella’s strengths are her ability to problem solve, counsel management, her demeanor and technical knowledge.” David Austern, Former SFDCT CEO Arquella has been actively involved in the community for many years holding various positions, such as: - Association for Talent Development, National Advisor to Chapters and Chapter Leadership Conference Chair, 2016 - Association for Talent Development (Board Past-President) - Passages for Women (Board Past-President) - The Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Board Past-President) - Community Family Centers (Board Past-Secretary) - United Way of Greater Houston (Class XXVII Project Blueprint, 2008) - Leadership Houston (Class XXX, 2012) - Greater Houston Partnership Women Business Alliance - Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) - National Association for African Americans in Human Resources, (Board Past President, Houston Chapter)
Howze
Howze
Delphia L. Howze serves as the CEO and Founder of D. Howze Solutions, LLC, a consultancy specializing in Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), and as the Chief Inclusion Officer for the U.S Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With over two decades of experience, she is recognized as a forward-thinking leader in Human Resources and D&I, adept at helping organizations harness human capital and diversity to cultivate inclusive environments. Known as the Inclusion Strategist, Delphia's expertise lies in developing and implementing HR and D&I strategies, facilitating talent development through training, mentorship, and leadership coaching, managing Affirmative Action Plans, and delivering impactful keynote presentations. As a thought leader in the field, Delphia is often sought after for her insights and expertise on diversity and inclusion matters. She has served on panels, contributed to publications, and spoken at conferences and events, inspiring others to embrace inclusion as a strategic imperative. In her capacity as an HR and D&I leader, Delphia collaborates with senior executives, key stakeholders, and HR professionals to craft, refine, and implement HR and D&I strategic initiatives aligned with the organization's objectives. As the Chief Inclusion Officer for ORNL, a prominent scientific and energy research facility, Delphia engages in consultation and collaboration with all research and operational units to drive initiatives aimed at recognizing and mitigating disparities hindering inclusion, diversity, and engagement. Working closely with Laboratory leadership, she plays a pivotal role in prioritizing strategies and interventions that foster and sustain an inclusive work environment. Throughout her professional journey, Delphia has honed her expertise as an executive leader, HR practitioner, and D&I advocate through a progression of roles across diverse industries including retail, banking, energy, transportation, logistics, consulting, and higher education. She contributed as a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Expertise Panel for the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and held the position of President for SHRM of Tompkins County, NY. Delphia consistently demonstrates her dedication to advancing HR and D&I initiatives by actively participating as a board member and trustee for various organizations. Additionally, she engages with college students as an Adjunct Instructor, imparting knowledge in HR, D&I, and business principles. Delphia earned her BA from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by an MBA from Point Park University and a Project Management certification from Villanova University. Currently, she is working towards a doctoral degree and maintains a SHRM-CP certification. Additionally, she is emerging as a new author with her upcoming book, “Including You! Leading Inclusion From Where You Are.” With her unwavering commitment to valuing diversity and activating inclusion, Delphia is dedicated to driving meaningful change and creating inclusive environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Illidge
Illidge
As Vice President of Partnerships and Executive Director of HBCU Programs at Getty Images, Cassandra is responsible for building robust visual content ecosystems supported by data-driven content acquisition strategies and long-term partnerships. In her role, Cassandra drives global content licensing and distribution deals with leading technology, media and service providers around the world. Additionally, she has led partnerships with organizations who share Getty Images’ commitment to anti-racism, inclusion, and the dismantling of discrimination while creating new revenue streams for organizations working to build a more inclusive society. Cassandra oversees the company’s Photo Archive Grants Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The program launched in 2021, with $500,000 in funding to support HBCUs in preserving their photo archives. Over 100,000 rarely seen photos depicting historical events, Black Culture and educational advancement at HBCUs will be available for licensing on Getty Images, providing a new revenue stream for each institution. One hundred percent of the revenue generated from this program is invested in supporting current and future HBCU Grant recipients, as well as stipends and scholarships for students. Cassandra also leads continued development of Getty Images’ Black History & Culture Collection, a not-for-profit inititiave created to provide access to historical and cultural images of the African/Black Diaspora in the US & UK, gathered from content owned by Getty Images. This program paves the way for a deeper understanding of history, providing complementaty access to visuals for educational purposes, centered on the Black experience and authentic representation of history. Cassandra has worked with Getty Images for over 20 years, overseeing the strategy and revenue growth for strategic content and brand partners. She has played an instrumental role in the businesses content acquisition strategy and integrated unique content from third parties into Getty Images’ suite of products. She leads our Brand Partnership program, ensuring that Getty Images aligns with organizations aligned with visual storytelling and fostering diverse content and content creators. She is also the co-principal for Getty Images’ first Employee Resource Group, The Multiculture Network. Cassandra holds an MA in Political Science and BA in Television Production from Brooklyn College. She enjoys travel, films, music, art, history, photography, volunteering, and Pilates.
Irausquin
Irausquin
Michael brings over 27 years of international oil & gas experience with a recognized and proven track record working for large, mid, and small size oil & gas services companies. He has worked and lived in 8 different countries leading organizations towards sustained and continuous profitable growth emphasizing improved efficiencies, offering differentiation, and innovative thinking. Michael recently held the role of President for BICO Drilling Tools. In this role, he was responsible for ensuring that the company operates most efficiently at a global level. He was fully accountable for the sustainable and profitable growth of the business, as well as for developing the business in the countries where BICO Drilling Tools operates directly or through different cooperation agreements. Michael leads teams located in different countries in the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Before BICO Drilling Tools, Michael served as Global Director for Drilling Fluids for Weatherford International. He also held the role of Vice President for the Americas for Gates Corporation leading the North American and Latin America businesses. Similarly, he was the Vice President of Operations for multiple regions with Tesco Corporation leading all the different product lines in key regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Western Hemisphere (US & Canada). Michael held multiple field and leadership roles for Schlumberger - the largest O&G service Company - globally and in diverse environments. For 13 years, he specialized in different aspects of the Directional Drilling business. He provided significant contributions to increasing market share, introducing new products and services, and attracting and increasing the retention of future leaders for Schlumberger. Michael worked for Schlumberger in North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Having worked with customers and colleagues in the United States, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Australia, he has extensive knowledge of business dynamics throughout the world, he has built relationships with international professionals, and understands how to work with professionals from diverse groups. Michael graduated from UT Dallas with an MBA in Global Executive Leadership. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering from the Universidad Dr Rafael Belloso Chacin (URBE), in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Michael also advises the board of the Energy Diversity & Inclusion Council. Michael is a US Citizen and is fluent in English and Spanish .
Jalla
Jalla
Ruchi Jalla is Vice President & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer at Elevance Health, Inc., a Fortune 50 company and leading health care provider dedicated to improving lives and communities and making healthcare simpler. Ruchi joined Elevance Health in 2021 to lead the DEI Strategic Framework, fostering partnerships with the Enterprise DEI Council and Senior Leadership team to develop DEI strategies and enterprise initiatives that advance Elevance Health’s overall diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts internally and externally. Prior to Elevance Health, Ruchi was Vice President & Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer with BAE Systems Inc., a subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, security, and aerospace company. Ruchi is an experienced, award-winning DEI leader known for building top-performing teams, fostering strong collaboration between DEI and business functions, and is a frequent contributor to publications, panels, keynotes, and other events. Ruchi currently serves as a Board Trustee for The Langley School and previously served as President of the Northern Virginia SHRM Board of Directors. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Western Ontario, Ruchi has earned certifications as a Qualified Administrator, Intercultural Development Inventory, Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), HR Certification Institute, SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) for Human Resource Management, and Certificate in Human Resources Management [High Honors], Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children.
Jensen
Jensen
Robert Jensen is a professor in the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and board member of the Third Coast Activist Resource Center in Austin. Jensen joined the UT faculty in 1992 after completing his Ph.D. in media ethics and law in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a professional journalist for a decade. At UT, Jensen teaches courses in media law, ethics, and politics. In his research, Jensen draws on a variety of critical approaches to media and power. Much of his work has focused on pornography and the radical feminist critique of sexuality and men’s violence, and he also has addressed questions of race through a critique of white privilege and institutionalized racism. In addition to teaching and research, Jensen writes for popular media, both alternative and mainstream. His opinion and analytic pieces on such subjects as foreign policy, politics, and race have appeared in papers around the country. He contributes to local organizing in Austin, TX, through his work with the Third Coast Activist Resource Center, http://thirdcoastactivist.org. Jensen is the author of Plain Radical: Living, Loving, and Learning to Leave the Planet Gracefully (Counterpoint/Soft Skull, 2015); Arguing for Our Lives: A User’s Guide to Constructive Dialogue (City Lights, 2013); All My Bones Shake: Seeking a Progressive Path to the Prophetic Voice, (Soft Skull Press, 2009); Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity (South End Press, 2007); The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege (City Lights, 2005); Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity (City Lights, 2004); and Writing Dissent: Taking Radical Ideas from the Margins to the Mainstream (Peter Lang, 2002). Jensen is also co-producer of the documentary film “Abe Osheroff: One Foot in the Grave, the Other Still Dancing” (Media Education Foundation, 2009), which chronicles the life and philosophy of the longtime radical activist. An extended interview Jensen conducted with Osheroff is online at http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/freelance/abeosheroffinterview.htm. Jensen was a consultant to the filmmakers of the 2008 documentary “The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality, and Relationships,” in which he also is interviewed. Information about the film is available at http://thepriceofpleasure.com/. He also is the co-writer/producer of an educational slide show in PowerPoint about pornography, “Who wants to be a porn star? Sex and violence in today’s pornography industry.” Information about the show is available at http://stoppornculture.org/ or by writing to stoppornculture@gmail.com. Jensen can be reached at rjensen@austin.utexas.edu and his articles can be found online at http://robertwjensen.org/.
Johnson
Johnson
Angela Johnson (Chief Diversity Officer) is a Human Resources professional with over 25 years of comprehensive HR knowledge and expertise in various HR disciplines and industries. She currently serves as the Human Resources Director for Occidental Petroleum Corporation and is responsible for developing and implementing HR strategies that align with organizational objectives. Her key stakeholders are Oxy’s corporate business leaders and C-Suite executives. Prior to joining Occidental in 2007, Angela worked for El Paso Exploration & Production Company, Sonat, Inc., Enron Capital & Trade, and Sysco Corporations, where she held multiple HR positions of increasing responsibility. Angela is a native of Houston, and a graduate of the University of Houston, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and a Masters of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Angela also has a Professional of Human Resources (PHR) designation. Angela has been married to her husband, Danny, for almost 31 years and together, they are the proud parents to two sons, Richard and Darius, and two beautiful granddaughters (Peyton and Sariyah. One of her greatest joys in life is spending quality time with her family and making loving memories that will be cherished for years to come. Angela is very active in her local church community, where she serves as an Associate Minister. She is involved in several volunteer outreach ministries that aid in meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the congregants. Additionally, she and her husband are co-leaders of the Marriage Ministry, where they devote countless hours teaching, counseling and mentoring couples of all ages and stages of life. Even in the COVID induced environment, Angela and her husband's commitment to service has not been deterred. With the help of technology, they are still actively engaged in ministry via Zoom. Finally, Angela has served on the Board of two non-profit organizations, TREK (dissolved in 2019), was a collaboration of Greenway Plaza businesses that partnered with Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) to provide commuter options from Greenway Plaza to Southwest Houston suburbs and There Is No Box (TINB) CDC, which is a 501c3 organization aimed at increasing home ownership in minority communities, helping sustainability and awareness; thus creating generational wealth and closing the financial disparity gap. Over the past several years, Angela has very passionately been an ambassador and champion of Oxy's Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Along with Vicki Hollub, Oxy's senior leaders and a host of employee representatives, we are working hard to ensure that our workplace is not only diverse but also inclusive and that we are providing a safe space for all employees. Our leadership team understands that an inclusive workplace is essential in order to realize our aim to be “OneOxy”. Not one in the sense that we all have to look the same, talk the same, or think the same. But rather, celebrating our differences and collaborating so that together we are better, together we are stronger, together we win!
Johnson
Johnson
Courtney, currently serving as the Vice President of Business Development at Atlanta Life Insurance Company, exemplifies unwavering dedication to the insurance industry and a profound commitment to honoring the legacy of Alonzo Herndon. Her pivotal role within this historic black-owned financial institution allows her to contribute significantly to the positive impact the company has on the lives of individuals and families, ensuring the continuation of its noble mission. With over two decades of experience in the insurance sector, Courtney has held influential leadership positions across various organizations: 1. As the Regional Vice President of Sales and Service for National Accounts (West) at Prudential: Courtney leveraged her extensive sales expertise to gain valuable insights into market dynamics and customer needs. Her strategic leadership significantly enhanced client relationships and optimized service delivery. 2. Vice President, Client Relationship Management (CRM) for National Accounts at Prudential: In this role, she fostered strong connections with clients, ensuring their satisfaction and success. 3. Assistant Vice President of National Accounts Services: At MetLife, Courtney played a pivotal role in establishing the South Customer Unit, enhancing service delivery and client relationships. 4. Mutual of Omaha: Here, she gained hands-on experience across diverse aspects of the group insurance customer journey, including claims management, contracting, and premium/billing auditing, and the creation of a TPA billing unit. Courtney’s involvement extends beyond corporate boundaries: - As the National Co-Director for the Black Leadership Forum at Prudential, she championed diversity and inclusion. Collaborated with senior leaders and stakeholders, she empowered Black employees, leaving a lasting impact on individual careers and community success. - Her commitment to community service is evident through her roles as Chair of the Board of Directors for the YWCA Greater Charleston Chapter and Vice Chair on the Charleston Teacher’s Supply Closet board. As a member of the esteemed organization Links, Incorporated (Charleston, SC - Chapter), she continues to make a lasting impact on social causes and community well-being. These engagements underscore her dedication to making a positive difference beyond the office walls. Courtney’s journey embodies excellence, resilience, and a genuine desire to uplift others.
Johnson
Johnson
Jones
Jones
Kalkar
Kalkar
Himanshu is an experienced digital and technology transformation leader with 15 years of experience in the space of AI and Product development and over 20 years of experience across 4 different industries. He has been responsible for envisioning, and executing digital and product strategies. He has been leading global organizations that develop impactful AI enabled technology products and services. His business value spans across leading hi-tech efforts to not only modernize, simplify, and digitize the existing operating environment but also drive omni channel and multi-product growth. His academic credentials include Global Executive MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, MS in Electrical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communications. Himanshu lives in Cary, NC with his wife and 2 kids. He loves to spend time with his family and also enjoys swimming and badminton.
Kalomparis
Kalomparis
Knudsen
Knudsen
Award-winning senior business leader with 30+ year career. Co-Author of Modern Business Management: Creating a Built-to-Change Organization. Laureen is working with industry leaders and internal experts to define the future of business and bring Lean/Agile principles to all parts of an organization, focusing on optimizing end-to-end value stream flows, removing waste, and ensuring executives can make data-driven decisions. Laureen led transformations at 4 Fortune 1000 companies and has transformed Product and Strategy, IT, Engineering, Support and Services, Professional Services, and Sales and Marketing organizations. She currently serves as trusted advisor to C-Level executives and leaders working to revolutionize operations to better respond to market changes, while creating an environment for innovation.
Koo
Koo
Sarai Koo, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Visionary Officer at Project, where she reshapes possibilities and challenges conventional norms. Her experience spans various sectors, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations, local agencies, educational institutions, the federal government, Intelligence Communities, and global organizations. Sarai's commitment to addressing critical issues (i.e., equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging) underscores her role as a change agent. She actively navigates complex terrains and produces environments where diverse voices are heard and valued. Her transformative impact takes center stage through meticulously crafted work, integrating insights from her proprietary C*IDEAS™ framework, the groundbreaking SPICES Paradigm™, and other innovative models. These conceptual instruments are used in her work to redefine organizational landscapes and individual trajectories. She seeks results that offer a profound, enlightening, and productive experience. Dr. Koo is an architect of transformation. Her impactful messages resonate deeply, exposing fresh perspectives. She guides, advises, and facilitates global leaders, including ambassadors, government officials, presidents, CEOs, educators, and individuals from diverse backgrounds. In 2019, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Insider Threat Task Force chose Dr. Koo as the lead organizational change expert. Her mandate involved devising strategies for transforming organizational culture, explicitly addressing insider threat issues across 40 Federal Executive Agencies and over 200 senior officers. Chosen as one of the top 100 Diversity Officers by the National Diversity Council and recognized as a top 25 Next Gen Korean-American Community Leader by The Korea Times, Sarai's influence spans national and international media appearances and coaching endeavors that captivate audiences across diverse platforms. Dr. Koo is the author of the book “Seoul Food” and has dabbled in acting. She has appeared in Steven Soderbergh's American thriller film “Kimi” (released in February 2022) and a worldwide Hyundai commercial, showcasing her diverse talents.
Lopez
Lopez
Lucas-Bledsoe
Lucas-Bledsoe
Dr. Candice Lucas-Bledsoe is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of leadership, innovation, and diversity and equity. She is the Global Chief Diversity Officer of the Action Research Center in Dallas, Texas. She also holds appointments in the Penn State University's Anti Racist Leadership Academy, SMU Cox School of Business and Hunt Institute of Humanity in the Lyle School of Engineering. Prior to joining the Action Research Center, Dr. Bledsoe served as a Professor for the Yonok University in Lampang, Thailand. She has also led international initiatives in organizations such as, Bank of Thailand, Bain & Company, Microsoft, Qatar University, Hong Kong University Science and Technology, and Aba Dhabi Department of Education and Council (ADEC). The United Nations honored Dr. Bledsoe with the UN Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Goal 4: Quality Education in 2020 for her tireless efforts to increase access to education and school enrollment rates at all levels, particularly for girls. She is the recipient of the 2013 SMU Women’s Symposium Profiles of Community Leadership Award. Dr. Bledsoe has published many articles and received numerous fellowships including: The National Endowment of the Humanities, the New Leadership Academy, National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan, and Boone Texas Project for Human Rights Education. Dr. Bledsoe received her Doctorate in Education from The University of Southern California. Dr. Bledsoe also holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and Baylor University.
Maceyko
Maceyko
Dr. Melissa Maceyko (she/her) is an experienced educator and researcher with degrees in Political Science, Linguistics, and Anthropology. Dr. Maceyko has conducted research on the role that understandings of identity, such as gender and sexuality, play in political access, engagement, leadership, and advertising in the United States and abroad. Her current writing project focuses on the role that interpersonal conversations play in effective social change and political action. Seeking to make academic work more applicable and accessible, Dr. Maceyko writes and speaks for popular as well as academic audiences and has organized multiple public education forums on topics ranging from environmental justice to abolition. Her focus on allyship has been driven by her research, teaching, and organizing experiences. In addition to her role at the Center for Allyship, she serves as a professor in the Anthropology and Linguistics departments at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Dr. Maceyko is also active in a number of professional organizations, most recently serving as a member of the California State Diversity and Public Policy committees for the American Association of University Women and as Co-Chair of the CSULB President’s Commission on the Status of Women. Through these positions she has created and delivered inclusivity and allyship trainings for a wide range of audiences. Drawing from her academic and research expertise, Dr. Maceyko has developed a unique language-centered approach to diversity and inclusion and allyship training.
Machicote
Machicote
Joe has nearly 30 years of experience working in the fields of HR and Diversity and Inclusion has held multiple senior leadership roles throughout his career. Prior to joining Premier Inc., Joe was the SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Diversity Officer for Erickson Living, a large continuing care retirement community organization. Joe has also held roles as Vice President of HR & Organizational Development and Chief Diversity Officer at Snyder's-Lance, a leading manufacturer of snack foods, and Chief Diversity Officer, Vice President of Relations Development, Division Director of HR, Director of HR and Training, and Sr. Director of Foodservice and Dining Operations at Compass Group. During his career, Joe has had responsibility for all aspects of HR and Organizational Development, which include creating high performing teams, cultural development, diversity and inclusion, workforce planning, rewards and recognition, talent management, employee relations, learning & development, talent acquisition, policy and procedure, payroll, compensation and benefits. Joe has a passion for community service and has chaired several Community Boards following his passion for education, nutrition, culture, diversity and inclusion and the advancement of under-privileged and at-risk individuals.
Mahone-Rightler
Mahone-Rightler
Jen Mahone-Rightler leads Epsilon’s D&I efforts by championing, developing and executing programs that enhance a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging within the company. She is responsible for implementing sustainable programs to help shape the organization’s training, hiring practices, leadership development and broader corporate social responsibility efforts. Jen is also focused on integrating and aligning the company’s commitment to D&I with the clients and communities Epsilon serves. Jen brings more than 20 years of experience across diversity & inclusion, talent integration, recruiting, employee engagement and leadership development to Epsilon. Prior to joining Epsilon, Jen led Diversity & Inclusion efforts for Boeing South Carolina where she developed and executed an integrated D&I strategy for 60,000 employees and oversaw 9 business resource groups. Jen is a visiting facilitator in partnership with the University of South Carolina and a facilitator for Cornell University’s eCornell Certificate Program. She is also a principal partner and consultant with Elements2Inclusion, a boutique firm that provides diversity and inclusion services. Jen has held board positions with the Illinois Diversity Council (President) and with the Kenosha Community Foundation as the scholarship chairwoman for the MaryLou & Arthur F. Mahone CEO Youth Scholars Award. Jen currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband Kirk.
Martinez
Martinez
Jobi Martinez, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of J|M Consulting. Dr. Martinez has 20 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion and has worked with non-profits, city municipalities, colleges and universities, and for-profit corporations. Her work and research primarily examine how institutions advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The last five years, Dr. Martinez has strategically focused on antiracism and guiding institutions on becoming antiracist institutions. In 2018, Dr. Martinez joined the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), one of the most diverse universities in the nation, as the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion. With over 20 years of experience in diversity and inclusion, Dr. Martinez has spent most of her career leading DEI work in higher education. Dr. Martinez worked closely with the president and other administrative leaders on diversity, access, equity, and inclusion initiatives with a special focus on the university’s antiracism initiatives. In her capacity building role, she led the university to receive its first Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. Prior to joining UHD, Dr. Martinez served as the Managing Director and Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at Texas Tech University (TTU) where she helped establish a division of 13 units committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement from 2009 to 2014. In 2014, she left her position to complete her doctorate degree and examine to advance her research and teaching in diversity and inclusion. During this time, she consulted colleges and universities on campus climate studies, diversity and inclusion marketing and communication, antiracism, and strategic plans. Dr. Martinez was recognized as a National Thought Leader (2018 and 2019) for her diversity leadership, innovative practice, and media and communication research.
Martinez
Martinez
Lisette Martinez serves as Audubon’s Chief Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) Officer. In this role Lisette works across the organization to build EDIB practices into the fabric of the Audubon’s operations; refine policies and procedures, and lead data-driven change initiatives. She works closely with the Conservation and People and Culture teams to weave EDIB principles across Audubon’s conservation work throughout the Western Hemisphere. Prior to joining Audubon in 2023, Lisette was Executive Vice President and Chief DEI Officer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals where she was responsible for leading the DEI strategic plan for 18 hospitals and 10 colleges, impacting more than 50,000 students and employees. Lisette also served as Yale New Haven Health System’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and as Chief Diversity Officer and Language Services at TriHealth Inc. Lisette currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Mann Center, the Urban League of Philadelphia, and Project HOME. A native Spanish speaker, she holds an MBA from Thomas More University and a BBA in Marketing, Management, and International Business from the University of Cincinnati. Lisette presently lives in Burlington, New Jersey.
Mayo
Mayo
Ivette Mayo is an awarding winning entrepreneur, international author and motivational business speaker. Ivette’s POWER is that she gets what is important, the bottom line – people, profits, and productivity. As the CEO of Yo Soy I AM, LLC, a professional development and consulting firm. She is known as a POWER ADVOCATE by her clients for creating POWERFUL and IMPACTFUL results. Her 27 year global career was spent working in business development, sales, marketing and training. Her focus is to incorporate cultural awareness and competencies into all her training programs to assist participants in stimulating performance and to gain more insight into themselves and others. This dynamic facilitator has worked with several Fortune 100 & 500 companies such as Shell, Direct Energy, Comcast, Nationwide, Comerica Bank, H&R Block, Nielsen, and State Farm. Her high energy style, direct approach and humor make Ivette a powerful motivational business speaker. Her message is always centered on these five key areas, leadership, confidence, change, courage and culture. These keys are certain to empower and unlock potential to lead with confidence in today’s marketplace. Most importantly, she dares her audiences to challenge limited thinking, to take bold action, to push past excuses, and move beyond complacency to be POWERFUL. From 2012 to 2016, Ivette served as a Public Diplomate for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. In 2017, became an award winning international author by pinning her book “A 30 Day Guide to Your POWER - Powerful Outcomes through POWERFUL Words”. In June 2018, she establish POWER On Heels Fund, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on the advancement of Latinas in the workplace and marketplace and minimize the impact of pay-gap inequities faced by providing unique programs, mentorship, and scholarships to accelerate their professional growth and cultivate future leaders. Most recently, Ivette was recognized by TalentLMS and made their list of "Top Female Career Coaches to Follow in 2020", and “2019 Woman Worth Watching” by the Diversity Journal, a national publication.
Mays-Diagne
Mays-Diagne
McBride
McBride
Carol McBride is President of The Carol McBride Group, LLC and recently served in an executive leadership role at top mortgage company in the U.S. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business degree with a concentration in human resources and has worked as an HR professional for more than 30 years. She is also a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and holds the Society for Human Resource Management SHRM-CP certification. She is an HR Generalist specializing in Global Health and Welfare, Retirement, and Pension plan administration. During her career in HR, she has demonstrated her ability to exceed corporate objectives in a variety of executive and senior HR management and entrepreneurial roles. She currently serves as a board member for the Dallas Fort Worth Benefits Group on Health. She is an active member the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), SHRM Executive Network, International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP), DallasHR, HR Houston, Houston Compensation & Benefits (HC&B), and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR). She has served as committee chair, member and sponsor for charitable organizations, committees and employee resources groups and initiatives during her career. Carol is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Carol McBride Group, LLC (CMG) and the author of HR, Where’s Your Freaking Sense of Humor. She is also sponsored her own HR Consortium to share knowledge and experiences with the HR community. She has had the honor of being invited as a human resources subject matter and motivational public speaker in Texas and Colorado.
McEwen
McEwen
Cynthia brings her expertise in collaborative and employee-oriented leadership to Progyny’s human resources team. Her talent lies in using both data-driven insights and creativity to boost employee engagement, design and restructure benefits, and challenge the status quo to ensure growth, alignment, and forward progress. Prior to joining Progyny, Cynthia established The Talent Strategist LLC, a company with the mission of helping small and mid-size organizations and leaders overcome lingering and complex compliance and cultural challenges. Prior to establishing her consultancy, she oversaw all elements of HR and Benefits as the Director of Human Resources in the Washington Office of Cleary Gottlieb. Cynthia also serves as a commissioner for the District of Columbia, advising the Mayor on the provision of early intervention services for children 0-5 with developmental delays.
McKissic
McKissic
Edward McKissic serves as the Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Group 1 Automotive. In his current role, he is responsible for leading human resources strategy and operations, leadership development, talent acquisition, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Mr. McKissic joined Group 1 in 2021 with over 30 years of experience in global corporations. He has an accomplished background in manufacturing, consumer products, technology, and the automotive and retail industries. Mr. McKissic is from Lansing, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management from Spring Arbor University. Before joining Group 1 Automotive, Mr. McKissic held several essential Executive Human Resources roles for Fortune 100 companies, including Vice President of People Operations at Waste Management, Division Vice President of Human Resources for Walgreens, and Vice President of Human Resources at Walmart. He also held leadership roles at Hewlett-Packard, Electrolux, and General Motors. Mr. McKissic possesses sharp business acumen as a Human Resources strategist and operations leader in organizational effectiveness and talent strategy, with proven expertise in scaling Human Resources programs, development, and operational business alignment that seamlessly partners with cross-functional business units to enable growth and development. Mr. McKissic has been recognized as a “Notable Champion of Diversity” by Automotive News, an automotive industry newspaper for predominantly individuals who correspond with automobile manufacturers and suppliers.
Merchan
Merchan
Nallani
Nallani
Ogden
Ogden
Eva is a Regional Diversity Advisor for Pinnacle Financial Partners. In this role, she provides subject matter expertise for the enterprise DEI Strategy and leadership to the Pinnacle corporate D & I Council and all regional DEI Councils in her markets which include North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, National Capital Region, and Florida. Among other community responsibilities, she serves as Chair of Guilford Works, a workforce development board with a focus on creating equitable workforce initiatives. She is also Chair of the DEI Strategy and Education committee for the North Carolina Bankers Association DEI Board. Eva also led the creation and implementation of a $1MM+ grants program for the High Point Community Foundation women’s initiative and partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership to create the Kitty Congden Women’s Mentoring Program benefiting women in the High Point community. Awards and Education - Eva was recently Honored as a Leader in Diversity by the Triad Business Journal in 2022 and has also been named Wonder Woman for professional success and community engagement by Yes Weekly magazine in 2019. - She was also honored as a Notable Latina for leadership to the Latinx Community by The Guilford County Latino Coalition in 2017. - Most recently, Eva was also instrumental in Pinnacle’s recognition in the Triad Region as a Corporate Leader in Diversity. Eva has earned DEI Certifications from Cornell University as well as the University of South Florida. And she holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology, from the University of Dallas where she graduated with honors.
Osunsade
Osunsade
Since 2020, Candace has been steering the helm of a division that supports over 8,000 emergency and humanitarian workers to be their best as they serve thousands of communities across 86 countries. Grounded in the belief that people powers CRS’s mission, she is committed to cementing a foundation for colleagues to have equitable and inclusive experiences in the workplace. Candace’s leadership is transforming the organization’s human resources into a global service provider and strategic thought partner that fosters innovation, creativity, efficiency, and collaboration. With her guidance, teams have spearheaded historic initiatives such as the Respect, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion program to champion the representation and participation of all individuals as part of CRS’s long-term workforce goals. In her private capacity, Candace supports community-based social justice projects, particularly those that provide underserved students better access to education in the United States and West Africa. In addition, she is a board member of various nonprofits, charities, and universities such as the Women’s Business Council, Maryland Governor’s Tourism and Development Board, Building Steps, Stevenson University, St. Mary’s College, and the University of MD College Success Scholars. For her meaningful civic contributions, HRO Today and the Daily Record have recognized her as the 2015 Non-Profit Chief Human Resource Officer of the Year and one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland in 2014 and 2019. Candace is a Cornell University graduate and currently a student of the Wharton Global Chief Human Resources Officers Executive Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a certified Senior Human Resource Professional, a Non-Profit Standards of Excellence Consultant, and an Executive Leadership Coach. Out of all these achievements, she is most proud of the privilege to mentor and coach others. Many of them are now leaders delivering positive changes in their own fields. When not in Baltimore, Maryland, Candace is in Lagos, Nigeria.
Payne
Payne
Trish Payne current role as the Vice President of Business Development for Atlanta Life Insurance Company showcases her dedication to the insurance industry and her commitment to honoring the legacy of Alonzo Herndon. Her involvement in a historic black-owned insurance company like Atlanta Life allows her to contribute to the positive impact the company has on the lives of individuals and families, carrying forward the legacy and mission. With a keen eye for market trends and a knack for relationship building, Trish has been in the relationship business for over 20 years. She thrives on cultivating opportunities and forging strategic partnerships. Her broad knowledge and strong financial acumen have enabled her to develop beneficial, long-lasting relationships with brokers and consultants. Prior to joining Atlanta Life, Trish had oversight of relationship management for Prudential’s top producing national and regional firms for Group Insurance. This included thought leadership, Continuing Education programs and events. Additionally, she collaborated across Prudential’s US businesses, establishing key connections for overall producer development and growth with a focus on Financial Wellness. Additionally, Trish spent several years at MetLife in an account executive role translating client needs into tailored solutions. Her ability to understand market dynamics and anticipate client requirements empowered her to drive business growth. Trish’s involvement as the Chief Operating Officer for the Black Leadership Forum at Prudential demonstrates her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the company. Her efforts in partnering with senior leaders and stakeholders to drive engagement and empower Black employees reflect her dedication to creating a positive impact on both individual careers and broader community success. Trish received a Bachelor of Science degree, with an emphasis on Healthcare Leadership from National Louis University. She also received a Master of Science degree with a concentration in Professional Counseling. She is also a member of CALIBR.
Peace
Peace
Vanessa is Vice President, Marketing Strategy, responsible for overseeing integrated marketing strategies, leading cross-functional teams, and implementing marketing campaigns in support of the Fundraising at the American Cancer Society. Vanessa has lead global brand and advertising teams across a wide range of industries including healthcare (Children’s Health North Texas), telecommunications (Brand Strategy, AT&T), aviation (Southwest Airlines & Air Canada) and started her marketing career in advertising agencies (Marketel/McCann, Montreal). She brings a deep passion for mentoring, developing talent and building internal and external collaboration with employees, creative agencies, vendors, and corporate partnerships. Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Her professional achievements have earned her awards and recognitions such as the Women We Admire Top 50 Women in Marketing, Southwest President’s Award, AT&T Global Marketing Marketer Award, and 40 under 40 Brand Innovators to watch. In her personal life, Vanessa is a wife, mother of two, and public speaker/advocate as the North Texas Representative for the Rett Syndrome Foundation for over 10 years.
Pool Knox
Pool Knox
Portfolio
Portfolio
Shane Portfolio joined Charter in 2022 as Senior Vice President, Network Engineering & Technology. He and his team are responsible for creating and implementing the company’s future network and engineering infrastructure with a focus on DOCSIS/PON access technologies, optical, core routing, data center/cloud and security. Shane also led the technical deployment of two company initiatives: high split and network convergence. Prior to Charter, Shane rose through the ranks during a 26-year tenure at Comcast. He began as a customer representative and later served as Senior Vice President, Network Services, where he oversaw the health and reliability of Comcast’s network, as well as change management, deployment and capacity planning. Shane is a doctoral candidate in organizational leadership with North Central University, and holds master’s degrees in telecommunications from the University of Denver and organizational leadership from Regis University. He also received a bachelor’s in computer information systems and management from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Shane served in the United States Army for nearly 15 years, first as a platoon sergeant and then as a leadership instructor at the Officer Candidate School, where he trained officers to prepare for leading soldiers into combat.
Quintero
Quintero
Rainey
Rainey
Paul Rainey serves as Executive Vice President of Operations and Finance for Penske Media Corporation (PMC). In this role, he works across PMC’s portfolio of award-winning brands including: Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Vibe, Robb Report, SHE Media, Dick Clark Productions, Luminate, Sportico and SXSW. Rainey oversees all operation and financial decision-making affecting the various operating companies that report into him. He provides strategic financial input companywide, including the development and implementation of operational and financial procedures to improve and maintain the financial health of PMC and its leading media brands. He also guides acquisitions and investments. Paul also serves on several boards. He is the Audit Committee Chair of Redaptive, Inc. board of directors and is a director of SXSW. An accomplished senior executive with approximately 25 years of financial leadership experience across multiple verticals, Paul has a fundamental understanding of financial operations and accounting, with a broad executive background and extensive international experience in billion-dollar operations spanning five continents. Rainey’s industry experience spans financial services and entertainment including gaming and Hollywood movie content studio curation and distribution, as well as manufacturing industries including aviation, energy, healthcare and lighting. Paul is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Global Eagle Entertainment. Prior to that, Paul was Chief Financial Officer of Harris CapRock Communications. Before joining Harris CapRock Communications, Paul held several financial leadership roles with increasing responsibilities spanning 15 years with the General Electric Company. Rainey holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and a BBA in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame where he graduated cum laude. Additionally, Rainey walked-on to the Notre Dame Basketball team after receiving an academic scholarship, only to become team captain his senior year. He is also Black Belt Six Sigma certified.
Rankin
Rankin
Cliff serves as the Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Bank of America. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in the Banking industry specializing in Technology and Operations. In his current role, he is responsible for the Design, Configuration, and Implementation of Communication Platforms used to optimize content delivery, simplify workflow, streamline communications, and create consistent customer experience across products. Cliff is a proud alumnus of the University of Texas in Arlington where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems and Operations Management. He has a passion for community service and his commitment is evident throughout his personal and professional career journey. He is a pillar of the North Texas Black Professional Group (BPG) and Committee Chair of Professional Development. He is a prominent member of several Mentoring Programs and zealous regarding Diversity & Inclusion.
Rassi
Rassi
Ritch
Ritch
Megan Ritch is the Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Megan is passionate about developing inclusive and equitable pathways for participating and working in sport. Megan started her career as a golf professional based in North Carolina. She made the transition to coordinate life by joining USA Triathlon in 2012, serving as the organization's first DE&I-focused staff member from 2017 to 2023. During her time with USA Triathlon, the organization was recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for DE&I efforts, receiving the Advancement in Diversity Award (2017) and the National Governing Bodies’ Diversity & Inclusion Choice Award (2018, 2019, 2021). In addition to her work within the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic ecosystem, Megan has worked with the International Olympic Academy, serving as a Coordinator for the International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors and is an elected member of the World Triathlon Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Commission and the Americas' Triathlon Womens' Commission. Megan holds a Bachelor's in Corporate Communications, a Master's in Sport Management and is a Certificated ADA Coordinator.
Rockamore
Rockamore
Cedric Rockamore spearheads our efforts to make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of the fabric of everything we do at American. Thanks to his leadership, we have made impressive strides, including instituting implicit bias training, leading our Community Council, establishing DEI goals and managing programs such as SOAR (Select, Onboard, Advance & Retain talent). Cedric joined the airline in 2010 and has held several leadership roles at American, including Vice President of DFW Operations, Vice President of PHL Operations, and Managing Director of DCA airports. Before joining American, Cedric led ramp operations at Memphis International Airport for Delta Air Lines. Prior to that, he led day-to-day operations for Atlantic Southeast Airlines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He also worked for Northwest Airlines as Director of Customer Service in Memphis and as General Manager at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Cedric earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He proudly served 10 years in the U.S. Navy.
Rénae Braboy
Rénae Braboy
Crystal Rénae Braboy is an inspired HR professional, with fifteen years of hands-on knowledge and expertise in employee relations, performance management, leadership training and development, and people operations and strategies. With a never-ending dedication to people and progress, she prides herself on being a leader who fundamentally respects the human experience, and finds creative ways to align individuals’ innate gifts with an organization’s key needs. Crystal earned her Master of Arts degree in Communications from DePaul University in 2010 and graduated summa cum laude; her B.A. is in English Literature. She is an HRCI-designated Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) as well as SHRM-SCP certified. Crystal is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP), credentialed through National Diversity Council’s DiversityFIRST program. Crystal is also a proud, certified TRHT Racial Healing Practitioner. Interestingly, Crystal worked for years as a hip-hop journalist and created some of her most important work in that space for VIBE Magazine. These days, Crystal busies herself serving as a proud mentor to several first-generation college-bound seniors from underserved communities through her work with Chicago Scholars, and has dedicated her life to advocating for equity, access, and opportunity in both the education and healthcare realms. Crystal currently serves as Planned Parenthood of Illinois' Chief People, Equity, and Culture Officer, and has happily been with the reproductive care, education, and rights-focused organization for the past decade. As the agency’s first Black woman to lead these functions, Crystal leads PPIL’s efforts toward cultivating and fostering an inspiring work culture that is driven by the leveraging of similarities and differences, and strengthened through the transformative pursuit of eliminating inequities. In this age of ever-evolving workplace practices and norms, Crystal is focused on ensuring that PPIL is well-prepared to respond to changing workforce dynamics, and that its business decisions are well-aligned with the social outcomes that the 100-year-old organization strives to create. As a nationally-recognized Planned Parenthood Federation of America Mind Sciences on Difference: Our Brains on Race™ facilitator, Crystal's facilitation expertise includes: - Leading discussions on how our unconscious brains operate and acknowledging our society’s racial paradox - Evidence-based strategies to prevent and override implicit bias, racial anxiety, and stereotype threat—including interventions at the interpersonal and institutional level - Communication strategies to reduce racial polarization. In addition to her important work for PPIL, Crystal is also the founder of Human Resources Practitioners of Color (hrpoc.org), which has a 10-person board, and over 10,000 members. By providing a supportive community for human resources practitioners of color, Crystal and her organization are able to help HR professionals find success and satisfaction in all aspects of their work. In 2019, Crystal was recognized with a Power 50 Award by the National Diversity Council at the Illinois Women’s Conference, an honor extended to women who are shaping the future of their industries. In 2020, Crystal was honored to be named on Crain’s Chicago Business’s Notable LGBTQ Executives + Businesses Championing Diversity & Inclusion List, and was also named as one of DiversityMBA’s Top 100 Under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders. Most recently, Crystal was named as one of the Chicago Defender’s 2021 Women of Excellence, and was selected as one of Chicago Foundation for Women’s prestigious “Willie’s Warriors” in 2023. Also in 2023, Crystal founded Queen Chicago, an entity that cultivates safe social spaces that center Black Lesbians on Chicago’s South Side (queenchicagolounge.com). Crystal has also served as a proud board member of the Chicago-based nonprofit, Inner Voice, an agency that exists to support persons experiencing homelessness in their quest to achieve and maintain enhanced well-being, self-reliance, and a place to call home, and also currently serves as a board member of Center on Halsted, the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. She is also a proud, active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, for which she serves through her chapter work through the Lambda Nu Sigma Canadian Alumnae Chapter, and as the proud founder of an online affinity space for Queer Sorors of the organization, called the RHOyal Rainbow Room, which has been in existence since 2021. In great honor of and tribute to the host of revolutionary individuals who poured into her own life, and who inspired her towards a life rooted in the pursuits of social justice and black excellence, Crystal does all that she can to serve as a positive example and an aide to the next generation of leaders who will come behind her. As an advocate of truth and justice, she is most passionate about advancing race and health equity in our society, and believes that centering traditionally-silenced voices in equity work is critical. Daily, she strives to cultivate physically and psychologically-safe spaces for those voices to be lifted, and for the knowledge and the teaching that is brought forth by these communities to be put to use to improve the ways that our workplaces - and society as a whole - operate.
Sanchez
Sanchez
Sanders
Sanders
With a career spanning over 35 years in progressive public companies and iconic brands in consumer goods, retail, banking, manufacturing and technology solutions, Keith Sanders specializes in building world-class HR organizations as well as inclusive, diverse cultures that authentically engage coworkers and produce award winning results. Having served as a Chief Human Resources Officer, Board Director and turnaround business strategist, Mr. Sanders leads by example leveraging comprehensive strategic planning coupled with consistent communication and an empowering leadership style that inspires innovation while optimizing resources and performance. With a well-trained eye for streamlining administrative and organizational functions, he delivers meaningful increases in savings, efficiency, and company engagement. Mr. Sanders currently serves as Vice President, DEI & Talent Engineering, CDW a leading multi-brand technology solutions provider to more than 250,000 business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW employs more than 9,800 coworkers and in 2018, the company generated annual net sales of $24 billion. Mr. Sanders earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration at Florida Atlantic University. He serves on the Board for the African American Leadership Academy and is a Board Member Emeritus for King Arts Complex, Black Economic Alliance and GLMV Chamber of Commerce. He also previously served on the board for the Bank Administration Institute, Columbus Zoo, Columbus Museum of Art and Harper College. Mr. Sanders is an active member of The Executive Leadership Council; The Society of HR Managers and the National Association of African Americans in HR. Mr. Sanders stays active in his community by fundraising for cancer research and mentoring future leaders. He was named to Savoy Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” list in 2014, 2018 and 2020.
Seale
Seale
Sesay Pope
Sesay Pope
Smith
Smith
Sonya G. Smith, EdD, JD, MEd, MA is the Chief of Staff; Chief Diversity Officer at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). She has strategic and operational responsibility for the Association and oversees ADEA’s diversity and inclusion programming. As the Chief of Staff, Dr. Smith functions as the ADEA second in command and acts on behalf of the President/CEO in her absence. She also works collaboratively with the ADEA senior leadership to ensure practices, policies, procedures, and initiatives are in place to support a highly effective organization focused on strategy integration, management, accountability and building a culture, structures, and A+ teams to maximize its mission and serve its 65K stakeholders. Having served as the ADEA Chief Diversity Officer since 2017, Dr. Smith also leads efforts to promote diversity, access, equity, belongingness, and inclusion in oral health education and the academic health professions. These efforts include the development of ADEA’s first access, diversity, and inclusion strategic framework, the inaugural faculty diversity toolkit, inaugural dental education-wide climate assessment, and health equity resources to support historically underrepresented and marginalized populations. Dr. Smith also served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Enrollment Services at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Additionally, she worked at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), previously serving as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Chief Student Affairs Officer; Associate Professor of Health Services Research Administration in the College of Public Health. Prior to her appointment at UNMC, she served as the Associate to the President; Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for Diversity at the University of Nebraska System. Dr. Smith’s other professional experiences include serving as a Public Policy Consultant for the Office of the General Counsel - Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Tennessee Department of Health - General Counsel’s Office, and the TennCare Bureau in the areas of healthcare policy, compliance, health inequities, legislation, and access issues related to underrepresented and underserved populations. Dr. Smith has published on women in global health leadership, academic freedom and free speech, diversifying the health professions, legal challenges to campus equal opportunity programs, and reducing health disparities. Her service over the years includes numerous committees such as the National Hispanic Medical Association – Health Scholars Advisory Committee, GMU Social Mission National Advisory Committee, and the National Medical Fellowship – National Advisory Council Primary Care Leadership Program. Additionally, Dr. Smith served two terms as the Vice Chair, Health Law Section, Diversity Committee for the American Bar Association. Her work also includes serving as a co-principal investigator for the national Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), formerly known as SMDEP. She has been named one of the 2024 100 Top Diversity Officer and a 2022 Influencer by the National Diversity Council. She also received the 2023 ADEA Chief Coaching Champion Award, the 2021 ADEA Change Agent Award, and a 2022 ADEA Chair of the Board Citation for her leadership efforts in diversity and inclusion. Dr. Smith is also the recipient of the Vanderbilt Law School’s Bennett Douglas Bell Memorial Prize and Philip G. Davidson III Memorial Award. Dr. Smith holds a B.S. in History, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, and an Ed.S. in Administration & Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University. She received her doctorate in Higher Education Administration and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Vanderbilt University and completed a certificate in international law at the Tulane University Institute of European Legal Studies in Paris, France. Dr. Smith completed her Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Management at the Arizona State University Thunderbird School of Global Management. Her other certifications include: Title IX Hearing Officer, Cornell University Diversity and Inclusion; Civil Rights Investigator, and Affirmative Action Professional.
Song
Song
Rachel Song is Senior Director, Finance and Business Operations at Comcast. In this role, she is responsible for FP&A and Business Operations Support at California region of Comcast Cable Business. She joined Comcast in 2018, bringing 15 years of finance and business operations experience across airlines and eCommerce industry. Rachel Song served on the Advisory Board of California Diversity Council and on the Board of Illinois Diversity Council. She has been a founding member, leader or sponsor of various Employee Resource Groups throughout her career. She earned her MBA from University of Chicago.
Steers
Steers
Stutz
Stutz
Jonathan Stutz is the President and Chief Diversity Officer at Global Diversity Partners. Previously, he led Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity for several global businesses at Amazon. His business experience includes Amazon, Microsoft, and Zulily. He has a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and has experience in cross-cultural management, international business, operations, human resources, corporate governance, and leadership development. Jonathan serves on the Board of Trustees for Youth Eastside Services, a Seattle area non-profit focused on the behavioral health of children. He serves on the City of Kirkland, Washington’s Human Services Commission and co-founded the Seattle area’s Eastside Diversity Task Force, the Eastside Latino Leadership Forum, and the Professional Technical Diversity Network in the Puget Sound and Bay Areas. Jonathan is a former President of the Lake Washington Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He also served on the National Diversity Committee for SHRM. Jonathan is an active runner and hiker and while born in Toronto, Canada, has lived in the Seattle area most of his life. He is married to Stacie for 30+ years, they have two adult children and a Golden Retriever.
Suggs
Suggs
It isn't uncommon for Qiara Suggs to bump into a someone she helped recruit or advise and learn her career guidance changed the trajectory of that person's life. As a human resource leader, Suggs helps people realize their potential. She also challenges leaders of organizations to realize the possibilities of their workforces and build inclusive workplaces that foster respect and belonging. It is fulfilling, purposeful work and aligns tightly with Suggs' deeply held values of living a life of service and purpose. This deep-rooted commitment has made Suggs a standout HR leader who was recently named as Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer at Houston's largest credit union, TDECU. In her new position, Suggs leads all aspects of human resources for the $4 billion organization. Suggs joined TDECU after rising to key leadership ranks during her nearly 20-year career at Memorial Herman Health System. Most recently as Director of HR Business Partners, she helped the organization's employees navigate the immense pressure and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggs also played a key role in grassroots efforts that supported the development of a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Guided by her family and faith, the Beaumont native learned early to the importance living with intention and valuing diverse perspectives. Suggs earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management/ Marketing from the University of Houston Bauer Colleges of Business and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Women’s University. She is graduate of the Fort Bend Chamber Leadership Program, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., active in HR Houston and holds multiple professional certifications including Senior Professional in Human Resources. Suggs lives in Fort Bend County with her husband, Elgin, and two sons Elgin, Jr. and Emory.
Tatla
Tatla
Sandeep Tatla is the Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Fasken. As a member of the Firm’s executive leadership team, she is responsible for designing and leading the Firm’s equity, diversity, and inclusion transformation. A catalyst for change, is a forward-thinking executive leader with over 15 years of demonstrated experience successfully leading diversity, equity and inclusion change strategies across different and complex industries. Her focus is on systemic and sustainable change. Before her role at Fasken, Sandeep held senior roles in the field, including, as Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at a global financial services firm, Manulife / John Hancock, and Vice-President, and Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability at a leading healthcare technology company.
Tipton
Tipton
Sharawn Tipton (she/her) is a Chief Human Resource Officer with 20 years of experience leading from the people's point of view. A Diversity and Inclusion veteran, Pay Equity advocate, and Board Member, Sharawn's thought leadership and program strategies are leveraged for scaleable impact, globally.
Toney
Toney
LaWanda Toney is currently Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communications and Partnerships in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education. LaWanda was recently promoted into this role after serving as Senior Advisor in the Department’s Office of Communications and Outreach for two years. Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration, LaWanda served as the Director of Strategic Communications at the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA). Prior to working at National PTA, LaWanda managed marketing programs, planned special events and created communications campaigns for major retailers, nonprofits, publishing, and advertising companies. LaWanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Howard University and a Master of Arts in strategic communication with an emphasis in public relations from Trinity University. She is also a member of ColorComm, an organization for women of color in all areas of communications.
Traveler
Traveler
Dr. Shagranda Moch Traveler is a strategic corporate executive with 20 years of progressive experience driving diversity, equity, and inclusion; global workforce development; operational efficiencies; and organizational change solutions in both the non-profit and financial services industries. Currently, Dr. Traveler serves as Chief Executive Officer of “Dr. Shagranda, Leading With Distinction”, where she brings a wealth of experience leading corporate change and communication strategies. As a global program leader, relationship builder, and community advocate, Dr. Traveler recently served as commencement speaker for Walden University/s 2023 Doctoral ceremonies. Fort Worth Business Press named Dr. Shagranda Traveler a “2022 Great Woman of Texas,” recognizing her as one of the 23 most influential women in the state. An award-winning thought leader, Dr. Traveler was honored with the 2020 Leadership Excellence Award for Distinguished Leadership, Scholarship, and Mentorship from Walden University's Board of Directors. She was named an “Empowering Visionary” and recognized as the 2019 Community Champion of the Year by the National Black MBA Association. Dr. Traveler is also a seven-time recipient of the USA Freedom Corps President's Volunteer Service Award. Dr. Shagranda Moch Traveler's determination and commitment to excellence is her superpower. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she was recognized with a certificate of “Special Congressional Recognition” for 25 years of dedicated service. She was also nominated as Outstanding Alumnae Member of the Year for the Southwest Region in 2022. A fierce advocate for all, Dr. Traveler is a former President of Walden University's Divine Nine Alliance; a National Urban League Digital Career Success Series presenter; a University of Dallas guest lecturer; and a former National Black MBA Association Programming chair, where she created and moderated the “Together We Lead” professional development series. Dr. Traveler is also a former VP of Education for the Citi Mustang Toastmasters and Fort Worth Rotary Club; active with Walden University's Alumni Association; a graduate of Leadership Mansfield; and was recognized by Feeding America for her food insecurity advocacy efforts in the 87th Texas Legislative session. Dr. Traveler earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Louisiana Tech University; her MBA in Marketing Management from the University of Dallas; and a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership from Walden University.
Valdez Thompson
Valdez Thompson
Linda is an accomplished executive with extensive experience and expertise in leading global private and public sector organizations. After a 20+ year successful career at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Linda consults with clients in the areas of Leadership Development & Training, Strategic Planning, Human Resources, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She consults with organizations and coaches individual clients and teams through her certified minority/women-owned business enterprise firm, Valdez Thompson Consulting, LLC. Linda is located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She currently facilitates the Leadership North Texas program, the Emerging Leaders in North Texas program and DEI initiatives at the North Texas Commission. In her role as the Executive Vice President of Administration and DE&I, Linda provided strategic leadership for Human Resources, Procurement and Materials Management, Risk Management, Business Diversity & Development, Corporate Communications and Marketing and Community Engagement. Linda previously served as a Human Resource executive for Fortune 500 companies such as Levi Strauss, Baxter Healthcare, Fruit of the Loom and Hasbro. Linda has a Masters in Organizational Management and a Bachelors of Business Administration and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources and Certified Diversity Professional/Advanced Practitioner from Cornell University. She holds other credentials such as Board Certified Coach, Certified Strengths Coach from Gallup, Certified Career Coach, and Emotional Intelligence EQi Certification. She is also a Certified Benefits Professional and Certified Compensation Professional. Linda has received several distinctions during her career. Most recently she was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal with the Leaders in Diversity, Lifetime Achievement award and the Diversity Leadership Award by the North Texas Commission. She was named a Latina Living Legend by the Hispanic 100. Linda is active in the community having served on various boards such as the United Way Tarrant County, American Heart Association, North Texas Commission, Tarrant County College Foundation, Visit Fort Worth. She currently serves on the boards of the Regional Hispanic Contractors’ Foundation, Hispanic 100, 4word and the Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Wilson
Wilson
Wright
Wright
Dr. George C. Wright was born in Lexington, KY. He received the Governors Award from the Kentucky Historical Society for his book, Racial Violence in Kentucky, 1865-1940. According to his research, at least 353 lynchings took place in Kentucky up to 1940. Though Wright states that it is impossible to accurately count the number of African Americans lynched, his research shows that the majority of the lynching victims were African American men. More than one-third of the lynchings occurred between 1865 and 1874. Dr. Wright is also the author of Life Behind a Veil: Blacks in Louisville, Kentucky, 1865-1930 and co-author of A History of Blacks in Kentucky. Dr. Wright served as the seventh president of Prairie View A & M University in Texas. He served as president for 14 years before stepping down in 2017 to return to teaching. In 2020, he was named Senior Advisor to the University of Kentucky President and the Interim Vice President of Institutional Diversity at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Wright is a graduate of the University of Kentucky (B.A & M.A.) and Duke University (Ph.D.).
Yasin
Yasin
Maaz Yasin is BlackBerry’s Director of Global Strategic Partnerships. In his role, Maaz leads BlackBerry’s global engagement with governments around the world around AI and cybersecurity. BlackBerry is a leading provider of AI-cybersecurity solutions for governments around the world. Previously, Maaz served as a senior advisor to the Justin Trudeau government in Canada. For over seven years in the Canadian government, he directly advised Prime Minister Trudeau and his ministers on many high-profile issues such as foreign affairs, federal economic policies, the war in Ukraine, and the Canadian government’s policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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