Join us as we have a conversation about the intersection of tech and DEI with Maria Medrano Co-Founder and CEO of Inspirame and VP, Global Head Community, Diversity and Belonging at Equinix

Maria Medrano stands as a trailblazing Latina jefa, holding dual roles as the Co-Founder and CEO of Inspirame and the Vice President, Global Head of Community, Diversity, and Inclusion at Equinix.

Inspirame, a SaaS startup, reflects Maria's commitment to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through educational empowerment. Leading the charge to elevate certificate and degree completion rates for disadvantaged communities, Maria seamlessly integrates her extensive business strategy expertise with unwavering dedication to community advocacy. Her journey began as the first in her family to earn high school and college degrees, instilling values of hard work, respect, trust-building, results delivery, service to the underserved, and continuous innovation to enhance outcomes.

With an illustrious 20-year career at tech giants like Cisco Systems, Visa, and Google, Maria's leadership prowess has earned her numerous accolades. Recognitions include the YWCA Tribute to Women Emerging Leader Award, Top 100 under 40 Diversity MBA, Silicon Valley 40 under 40, and Top 50 under 50.

Simultaneously, as the Vice President at Equinix, Maria leads a team dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion, well-being, and community impact. Her mission is to ensure every Equinix employee globally feels seen, valued, respected, and heard, fostering an environment where employees can confidently proclaim, "I'm safe, I belong, and I matter."

Maria's unique blend of business acumen and community advocacy, refined over two decades in human resources and diversity leadership, has consistently earned her acclaim, including a spot in Silicon Valley's 40 under 40. Beyond professional achievements, Maria cherishes her roles as a devoted mother, wife, daughter, and sister.

Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Master of Arts in Organizational Development, and an MBA, Maria Medrano is a Latina jefa leaving an indelible mark on the intersection of technology, access, and equitable outcomes.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with Dr. Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/theclinicdoctor/.

• • Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE 30 Min Strategic Planning Session⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Schedule a 30-minute Coffee Chat to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Scott⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to download the free 'Preventable Revenue Loss Calculator'
  • Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to download my FREE ebook 'The CDO's Handbook:
  • Unlock the 4 Stages of Your DEI Journey to Transform Your Company'
  • Apply to be a part of the next cohort of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care course⁠⁠⁠⁠ at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

Connect with our guest:

Maria Medrano: Linkedin-⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamedrano/, Email- Maria.Medrano@inspirame.com

Website- Www.inspirame.com

Join us as we have a conversation about the intersection of dentistry and DEI with Dr. Sharon Harrell, Chief Diversity Officer at FirstHealth of the Carolinas.

Dr. Sharon Nicholson Harrell joined FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a comprehensive, not-for-profit healthcare network based in Pinehurst, North Carolina, in October 1998 as the inaugural director of dental care. Since then, FirstHealth Dental Care has provided comprehensive dental care to over 30,000 underserved children up to age 21, and the centers have received national attention as models for delivery of care to low-income populations.

Dr. Harrell received her dental degree from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, where she also serves as an adjunct professor, and she completed an Advanced General Dentistry Residency at the University of Maryland Dental School. She attained her master’s in public health degree from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and has achieved Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the International College of Dentists, and the Academy of Dentistry International.

Never one to be afraid of being the “first,” in January 2021, Dr. Harrell was named FirstHealth of the Carolina’s inaugural chief diversity officer, where her job is to promote and foster an inclusive culture.

Dr. Harrell’s professional activities include having served as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leaders Group co-sponsored by the NC Healthcare Association and the NC Area Health Education organization. She was also honored to participate in the NC Association of Free & Charitable Clinics Health Equity Task Force and was selected as the 2020 recipient of the FirstHealth Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award. She is a current member of the Society for Diversity.

Dr. Harrell earned a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business in May 2021. She was credentialed as a Certified Diversity Executive in December 2021. Dr. Harrell resides in Pinehurst with her husband, Michael. They are the proud parents of one son, Brandon.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with Dr. Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/theclinicdoctor/.

• • Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE 30 Min Strategic Planning Session⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Schedule a 30-minute Coffee Chat to ⁠⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Scott⁠⁠⁠
  • Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to download the free 'Preventable Revenue Loss Calculator'
  • Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to download my FREE ebook 'The CDO's Handbook:
  • Unlock the 4 Stages of Your DEI Journey to Transform Your Company'
  • Apply to be a part of the next cohort of the ⁠⁠⁠Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care course⁠⁠⁠ at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

Connect with our guest:

Dr. Sharon Harrell: Linkedin-⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-harrell-dds-mph-fagd-ficd-fadi-cde%C2%AE-bb56107a/, Email- SHarrell@firsthealth.org

Join us as we have a conversation about pivoting from speech-language pathology to DEI with Nia Darville Stokes-Hicks, Senior Manager, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship at Greenhouse Software.

Nia Darville is an empathetic innovator at the intersection of employee experience and diversity, equity, and inclusion. A firm believer that DE&I solutions for companies should not be one-size-fits-all, she has deep expertise in analyzing organizations' unique cultures and creating solutions that satisfy their distinct needs. She currently serves as an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship (IDEA) Program Manager at Greenhouse Software.

Nia has a rich background in inclusive communication, diversity in tech, and program management. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Andrews University and her MBA with an emphasis in HR Management from Georgia State University. A self-proclaimed "people geek," Nia lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her husband Armondi and dog Winston.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with Dr. Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/theclinicdoctor/.

• • Book a ⁠⁠⁠FREE 30 Min Strategic Planning Session⁠⁠⁠
  • Schedule a 30-minute Coffee Chat to ⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Scott⁠⁠
  • Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download the free 'Preventable Revenue Loss Calculator'
  • Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download my FREE ebook 'The CDO's Handbook:
  • Unlock the 4 Stages of Your DEI Journey to Transform Your Company'
  • Apply to be a part of the next cohort of the ⁠⁠Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care course⁠⁠ at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

Connect with our guest:

Nia Darville Stokes-Hicks: Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/niadarville/, Email- nia.darville@greenhouse.io

Join us as we have a conversation about higher ed and making a change for the next generation with Dr. Lakeisha Thorpe - Exec Co-Director of Culture, Strategy, & Green Business Planning at Green America. Gain insights into how her experience of feeling othered pushed her into a career of diversity, equity, and inclusion!

Dr. LaKeisha Thorpe spent 16 years as a higher education administrator and instructor and has spent the better part of a decade researching, teaching, and presenting on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and social justice issues. Dr. Thorpe has taught college courses on cultural and racial theories, womanist and feminist theories, and pop culture and arts-based research methods. She is passionate about social justice, cultural humility, and a transdisciplinary approach to the navigation of transcultural spaces.

Her doctoral research is squarely grounded in the narratives surrounding food habits, food pathways, and their importance to our cultural identities. Her doctoral work, an arts-based research project, theorizes what might happen if we became the culture and ethnicity associated with the food we ingested. Dr. Thorpe is dedicated to ideologies that celebrate differences and is dedicated to creating space for uncomfortable conversations.

She has presented, taught, and/or facilitated conversations on diversity, equity, and Inclusion at Cedar Crest College, Providence College, and Bryn Mawr College, Lafayette College, Moravian University and Princeton University, Chestnut Hill College and Villanova University. Dr. Thorpe has served on several boards and committees throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. She's been an editor, a guest lecturer, and spent 4 years as a radio show host in Philadelphia, Pa. She currently serves as the Executive Co-Director of Culture, Strategy, and Green Business Development at Green America.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with Dr. Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/theclinicdoctor/.

• Book a ⁠⁠⁠FREE 30 Min Strategic Planning Session⁠⁠⁠
• Schedule a 30-minute Coffee Chat to ⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Scott⁠⁠
• Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download the free 'Preventable Revenue Loss Calculator'

• Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download my FREE ebook 'The CDO's Handbook:Unlock the 4 Stages of Your DEI Journey to Transform Your Company'

Connect with our guest:

Dr. Lakeisha Thorpe: Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlakeishalthorpe/

Join us as we have a conversation about systems driven leadership in DEI with Sophia Khan, Chief People, Culture and Operations Officer at University of Minnesota Foundation.

Sophia Khan is a global business transformation executive with more than 25 years of experience driving significant organizational change. I create comprehensive business and people strategies to maximize innovative results. She was recognized by Twin Cities Business Magazine as one of the 100 leaders to know in 2023.
As the Chief People, Culture and Operations Officer reporting to the CEO, at the University of Minnesota Foundation, she leads the development and execution of the HR and DEI strategic plans. They are centered on talent development, employee engagement, and operationalizing DEI in all of our commitments. This is accomplished in collaboration with leaders, managers, all employees, cross university partners and board of trustees with data insight rigor.
Her previous roles include Chief DEI Officer and senior DEI leadership at Thomson Reuters, Medtronic, and 3M; Human Resources leadership positions at PepsiAmericas and Wells Fargo. As a people and culture leader, she builds bridges across highly-matrixed organizations, transforming working environments to ensure a culture where respect and trust among employees and their leaders are the norm. She is known as a catalyst who drives meaningful change with measurable and sustained results.
Ms. Khan also serves on two boards:
• University of St. Thomas Dougherty Family College board of directors: Tasked with building strategic pathways from two-year associate degree programs to bachelor’s degree completion at University of St. Thoman, the University of Minnesota, and Metro State, including internship opportunities for career preparation and growth.
• ASCEND Asian Pacific Islander Professional Association, Midwest Board: Advise and coach chapter leaders on regional expansion, chapter strategies, and membership development for local use and the national board.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with Dr. Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/theclinicdoctor/.

• • Book a ⁠⁠⁠FREE 30 Min Strategic Planning Session⁠⁠⁠
  • Schedule a 30-minute Coffee Chat to ⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Scott⁠⁠
  • Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download the free 'Preventable Revenue Loss Calculator'
  • Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download my FREE ebook 'The CDO's Handbook:
  • Unlock the 4 Stages of Your DEI Journey to Transform Your Company'
  • Apply to be a part of the next cohort of the ⁠⁠Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care course⁠⁠ at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

Connect with our guest:

Sophia Khan: Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-k-677971150/, Email- shk@umn.edu

Join us as we have a conversation about DEI being in everything with Chantele Campbell - Chief Diversity Officer for The City of Buffalo NY. Gain insights into her amazing journey through DEI starting from before she realized that everything she did was a part of diversity, equity, and inclusion!

Chantele Campbell was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, a graduate of Canisius College and Regent University. She is a Certified Diversity Professional and holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus in Non-Profit Management and Master of Education. Chantele is currently a PHd student in the University at Buffalo’s Africana and American Studies Program. Chantele is the founder of Complete Nonprofit Consulting Group – a boutique consulting firm that supports nonprofit organizations of all sizes with their flagship program “Mission DEI”. Chantele is also the founder of “The C-Suite Mama”, a support and networking group for mothers in c-suite positions that will open for membership in Fall 2023. Professionally, Chantele serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for the City of Buffalo where she oversees the Office of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion. In this function, she leads a team that works to ensure equitable outcomes for underrepresented groups in the city of Buffalo. Leveraging her lifelong residency in the City of Buffalo, vast personal and professional network, Chantele works to build coalitions of public and private participants to advance the city’s goals. Chantele has served Buffalo, NY and the Western New York Community throughout her entire career in service of marginalized and underrepresented groups in the areas of nonprofit leadership, education, health care and mental health. In addition to her service to her local community, Chantele has served in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic and Haiti, supporting youth through various education initiatives. Chantele has served on several boards for local organizations and currently serves as Chair of the Board for The Exchange at Beverly Gray, which is an entrepreneurship incubator hub and co-working space for BIPOC start-ups. Most recently she ended her service on the board of directors for International Child Advancement, which supports educational and vocation advancement for orphaned youth in Congo. Although not currently active, Chantele’s entrepreneurial spirit led to her founding the award winning, Eniola Sisters Enrichment and Mentoring Program which served over 100 girls in the city of Buffalo from 2008 through 2017. Chantele is the wife of Claude Campbell II. Together, the couple has two children Quentin and Savannah.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with Dr. Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/theclinicdoctor/.

• Book a ⁠⁠⁠FREE 30 Min Strategic Planning Session⁠⁠⁠
• Schedule a 30-minute Coffee Chat to ⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Scott⁠⁠
• Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download the free 'Preventable Revenue Loss Calculator'

• Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to download my FREE ebook 'The CDO's Handbook:Unlock the 4 Stages of Your DEI Journey to Transform Your Company'

Connect with our guest:

Chantele Campbell: Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantelethompson/, Website- https://completenonprofitconsulting.com/ Email- CMThompson@buffalony.gov

Join us as we have a conversation about going from working as a CPA to leading the creation and deployment of Southwest's award-winning DEI strategy and pivoting into equity in beauty then water with Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Liji Thomas.

Liji began her career lobbying on Capitol Hill for an increase in housing for low-income women and children. In 2005, Liji joined Countrywide as a Project Manager and quickly rose through the ranks to become Assistant Vice President of Compliance and Risk Management. In this role, she oversaw compliance and risk assessment in Countrywide’s offshore operations and authored Countrywide’s Model for Offshore Compliance, a cross-functional, global, risk-based approach to the company’s compliance efforts. In 2008, Liji joined the Internal Audit Department of Southwest Airlines. During her time in Internal Audit, Liji led the company’s first Capitalization of Labor Audit and published an article advancing thought leadership in the space in the 2010 issue of Internal Auditor magazine. She then assumed a role as Manager of Business Strategy, implementing new business initiatives impacting over 3,600 individuals. These initiatives included strategies to increase revenue, improve customer experience and realize process efficiencies. In the first six months of 2012, Liji impacted revenue generation in excess of $40 million. As a testament to her leadership, Liji Thomas was shoulder-tapped to help build diversity and inclusion efforts for Southwest Airlines. In this role, she informed all aspects of diversity and inclusion for the nation's largest domestic airline and helped align Southwest Airlines culture with an award-winning diversity and inclusion strategy. Liji then led diversity and inclusion efforts for both Southern California Edison, an investor-owned public utility, as well as Beautycounter, a high-growth clean beauty and cosmetics company, before being named the inaugural Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the largest supplier of treated water in the United States, responsible for delivering water to 19 million residents across Southern California. In her current role, Liji oversees workforce development efforts, business outreach, community engagement and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, consisting of representation from ten (10) employee resource groups and five (5) labor unions, and seeks to strengthen the organization’s commitment to equity and inclusion across all stakeholder groups.

Liji is married and is the proud mom of two girls. In her spare time, Liji contributes to various charitable and civic causes. She is a Former Jesuit Volunteer and a 1998 graduate of Vanderbilt University. She has an MBA in Finance, a Master’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Information Technology Management and Consulting and holds CPA, CIA, CRMA and SHRM- CP designations. She was chosen to deliver her graduate school commencement address and is a graduate of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2017.

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Britney Scott, a physician, black belt in lean six sigma, DEI process improvement thought leader and enthusiast. She is also the founder of The Clinic Doctor consulting practice where they create systems that sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The podcast is powered by The Clinic Doctor.

The Clinic Doctor is a process improvement consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare. We use process improvement to help you create happier employees and better bottomline. Connect with us at info@clinicdoctorconsulting.com or learn more about us at www.clinicdoctorconsulting.com.

Connect with our guest:

Liji Thomas: Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/lijithomas/, Email- LThomas@mwdh2o.com, Twitter- https://twitter.com/liji_thomas?lang=en