20 Gamechangers in DEI
We asked our members to tell us who they think are gamechangers in the DEI space, and added in a few of our own to the list, courtesy of NEW staff! Here’s what they had to say:
“Karen Jones – Her life experience, work experience, and high emotional intelligence makes her a game changer. She is not here to help people check boxes and feel better about themselves. She has an unbelievably kind way of pulling people into a space of safety that allows heads and hearts to open up and learn effectively. She is one of those people who, when you are around them, you just know deep inside that you are in the presence of greatness. I have no doubt that she will go down in history with greats such as Fred Rogers and Nelson Mandela. Every time she speaks, it’s gold.”
– Kat Ortiz, I/O Psychologist and Training Specialist, Network of Executive Women
Robin DiAngelo, Professor, Diversity Advocate, Author of ‘White Fragility’
“Kim Nelson!”
– Fawn Germer, Best-selling Author & Speaker, fawngermer.com
Laverne Cox, Actress and Trans Rights Activist
“Alicia Boler-Davis, recently promoted Senior VP at Amazon, 1st black person on Amazon’s S-Team (like C-Suite)”
-Nicole Balkenbusch, North America Sr Finance Leader, Amazon Customer Service
“Minda Harts is doing a great job of advocating and inspiring. She doesn’t skirt around the issues – she takes them on!” Carol Vella, Associate Director, Marketing – DEI, Walmart
“Melinda Gates”
– Lacey Cozens, General Sales Manager, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Geena Davis, Actress and Founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender and Media
“Kerry Washington.”
– Katie Mumm, Acosta Sales & Marketing
Jonathan Van Ness, Actor, Presenter, Podcaster, and LGBTQIA+ Rights Advocate
“Sheryl Sandberg – by starting her ‘lean-in’ movement she made women feel empowered to make a difference and speak up in their workplaces.”
– Jill McIntosh, CEO JVM Ventures, Sr Consultant, Simpactful
Jameela Jamil, Actress and Activist, founder of ‘I Weigh’
“Ebony Wyatt- I am constantly inspired by her relentless energy and vulnerability to advance DEI acumen in our communities and workplaces.”
– Sara Knapp, Director Owned Brand Sourcing at Target
Eugene Lee Yang, Filmmaker, Entertainer, LGBTQIA+ and AAPIHM Activist
“P&G – Their marketing campaigns are bold, address the elephant in the room, and widen perspectives.”
– Kallie Millar – Director of Sales & Marketing, CROSSMARK
Janet Mock, Journalist and Trans Rights Activist
“Not sure it’s one company or one person. The thing about DEI is no one person holds the answer. But together, we can figure it out. Learning from each other challenging each other. That’s why I love NEW, we can all come together as an industry, and work on the path forward for advancing women’s careers.”
– Subriana Pierce, Navigator Sales and Marketing/Managing Partner
Jonathan Mayes, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Albertsons Companies
Reshma Saujani, Attorney, Activist, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code
Ijeoma Oluo, Author, ‘So You Want to Talk About Race’
