6 DEI Champions to Follow on LinkedIn

Diversity, equity, and inclusion—often referred to as DEI—is a hot topic that is generating a lot of buzz these days, especially as employers and employees navigate the pandemic’s impact within the workplace.

Diversity speaks to the presence of differences within a given setting or environment. Equity refers to providing equal possible outcomes for everyone through impartial and fair processes, procedures, and programming. Inclusion ensures that everyone in the workplace feels a sense of belonging.

It’s becoming more important now than ever for employers to take action and work to establish meaningful and sustainable social justice change for employees with special consideration for and acknowledgement of the history of injustice that has previously permeated American work culture. This history of injustice contributes to the continued marginalization of underrepresented groups within the workplace.

This is crucial for bosses, leaders, decision-makers, and individuals in positions of power and authority within the workplace, if they wish to be the change in establishing and maintaining a workplace deemed successful for everyone where people can grow, advance, and thrive both professionally and personally.

Badass Black Girl is proud to spotlight a collective of phenomenal Black women who are champions in this work and who are leading the charge in all things related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. They are indeed ones to watch [and to follow on LinkedIn] and deserve all their flowers now for their dedication and commitment to the very necessary endeavors of DEI!

1. Aaisha Joseph

Aaisha Joseph touts herself as “the DEI disruptor” and works to help companies

“recognize, reduce, and redress harm.” She is an executive coach and consultant who has

advised senior executives, including CEOs and Founders, in both non-profit and for-profit

industry sectors with the goal and aim of helping “future generations to find a balance

between freedom and security” by “building upon sacrifices made by prior generations.”

2. Agatha Agbanobi, M.Ed

Agatha Agbanobi is on a mission to transform organizations to retain and attract

underrepresented talent, which is directly at the intersection of her passion for serving

people—especially those who are the most vulnerable and part of marginalized groups.

Agatha is well-known for her "Daily DEI Reminders" on LinkedIn which help to raise

awareness and foster accountability and empowerment for leaders and decision-makers

and those whom they employ.

3. Elizabeth Leiba

Elizabeth Leiba considers herself a #SocialJusticeWarrior and credits it all to having

learned Black History, which truly changed her life and inspired her to launch her Black

History & Culture Academy. Her academy is a subscription-based, e-learning platform

that includes more than 50 courses in various topics ranging from African history and culture

to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition to being a life-long learner herself, she is also

a college professor inspiring Black excellence in higher education and keeping the torch lit

for future DEI champions eager to follow in her footsteps.

4. Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D.

Janice Gassam Asare is bold and fearless in her proclamation that DEI work is anti-racist

work. As an anti-racist educator, much of her work focuses on anti-Black racism specifically

and how it manifests in the workplace and within society at large. As the founder of BWG

Business Solutions, she helps organizations grow stronger by providing guidance and

strategy to executives and organizational leaders. Janice is a consultant, researcher, and

workshop facilitator and speaks on a plethora of topics regarding DEI in the workplace,

including "Creating Safer Spaces for Black Women at Work," "Supporting Black Employees

in the Workplace," and "Creating an Anti-Racist Organization."

6. Madison Butler

Madison Butler is is known as the “blue-haired unicorn,” and her work focuses on creating

equitable spaces and scalable strategies to achieve psychological safety in the workplace

—thus, her DEI work lies at the intersection of anti-racist, mental health, and trauma-informed

practices. Madison truly believes in humanity within the workplace and is deeply vested in

facilitating conversations centered around tough topics through shared stories, research and

data, and empathy—the very necessary tie that binds all humanity.

6. Patrice Palmer, Ed.D.

Patrice Palmer is unapologetic in both their personal identity and their professional work—

that is also very personal and hits close to home. To be Black, Queer, and Transgender

(non-binary), Patrice’s identity is very much rooted in the beliefs related to DEI work. In

addition to being a dynamic speaker, facilitator, and cultural storyteller, Patrice is an adjunct

professor and doctoral student whose various intersectional paths all lead back to the same

road of influencing organizational spaces in the realm of DEI work.

In the American society where work culture is rooted in systems of patriarchy, white supremacy, and oppression, the diversity, equity, and inclusion work these six DEI champions are leading the charge on is supremely necessary and long overdue. It is their boldness and bravery combined with their work ethic and authenticity that Badass Black Girl is here to recognize, applaud, and support!

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Meloni Capria is a Wisconsin native who currently resides in Texas with her wife, 10-year-old son, and their three pet Yorkies. Her professional background is in Secondary Education and English Language Arts and Reading. She currently serves in the role of Editorial Assistant at Mango Publishing Group and is a collaborative partner at DOPE Publishing. She enjoys writing, watching movies, and all things related to marriage, parenting, and family.