Happy Wednesday, and welcome back for another episode of the Intersection Podcast! I’m excited to host Thane Kreiner, co-founder of the Black Corporate Board Readiness program at Santa Clara University with Dennis Lanham. In addition to this role he is a  board member, Advisor, and former CEO with over 30 years experience starting and growing enterprises. In our conversation, Thane and I discuss the mission to increase Black representation on corporate boards. We tackle this conversation by discussing… The programs powerful framework of “for us, by us” that can be used for any organizati ..read more

Welcome to this episode of the Intersection Podcast! Today, I’m privileged to host Suzanne Jakstavich, Human Resource Executive, Leadership Coach and proud mom. Suzanne has a deep commitment to developing people and culture strategies that empower talent, foster growth, and drive business success. Suzanne's leadership journey was shaped by personal experiences, including growing up with disabled grandparents and observing her parents' work environments. Her people-centric approach emphasizes psychological safety, curiosity, and vulnerability as essential elements of leadership. In our conversa ..read more

Welcome to this week's episode of the Intersection Podcast! We are excited to have Kate North, a workplace strategy expert, to explore hybrid work and its impact on inclusive workplaces. As a principal at Global Workplace Analytics (GWA), Kate brings over 30 years of experience as a trusted advisor to business, HR, and real estate leaders. Her passion lies in crafting transformative workplace strategies that align organizational culture with business goals.  Kate is dedicated to helping organizations optimize hybrid work arrangements to boost innovation, engagement, and inclusivity.  ..read more

Welcome to this week's episode of the Intersection Podcast! We are honored to have Emily Voorde, Founder and CEO of INTO Strategies, a disabled-led firm dedicated to fostering inclusivity in moments, movements, and campaigns. Emily’s journey from an AmeriCorps member to 2nd grade teacher and then serving as a liaison to Disabled Americans and K-12 educators in the Biden-Harris Administration is nothing short of inspiring. With a passion for justice and equitable access to education, Emily brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise on disability representation. The highlights of our discussion ..read more

Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of the Intersection Podcast.  In this second installment of “A Love Letter to Black Leaders” we are delighted to have Shayna Hammond. Shayna is Founder & CEO of Lead For Liberation and IndigoWomen. Shayna centers spiritually-inspired and research based coaching methods to center Black leaders and entrepreneurs.  She is also an author with extensive expertise in leadership and life coaching, workplace culture redesign, business strategy, and education. Shayna recently founded Shayna Renee Media, where she delivers keynote speeches, co-cura ..read more

Hello, and welcome back to the Intersection Podcast.  This is the first installment of three entitled  "It’s Not You - Navigating Leadership As A Black Woman." The conversations over the next few weeks are near and dear to my heart.  As a Black woman who spent 20+ years in Corporate America, often feeling unseen and unheard, I wanted to give voice to our unique experiences and provide resources, tools, and a community to let you know you’re not alone. Over the course of the series, we'll explore what it’s like to work in environments that were not designed by us or for us. And b ..read more

Welcome back! I hope your 2024 is off to a healthy and nurturing start.   We’re kicking off this first episode of the season with a focus on money. Delving into what’s possible when organizations align financial objectives with their mission and values. I’m thrilled to welcome Dana Britto, Founder & Principal of Cultivar Consulting.  Dana is a bold champion for greater equity within nonprofit management and philanthropy.  Her expertise as a Lender and Board Treasurer help organizations strengthen financial management systems which ultimately empowers leaders, teams, and the ..read more

Welcome to a momentous occasion— celebrating the 100th episode of The Intersection Podcast! Your support, engagement, and commitment to not only this podcast, but fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces, has been instrumental in making this podcast what it is today. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable community we've created. In this special episode, I  reflect on how far we've come, celebrate accomplishments, and renew my commitment to the podcast’s mission. But that's not all! We're gearing up for what's to come in 2024, and it's going to be an exciting year fil ..read more

“The purpose of equity work is [so we can all] exist as full humans. White supremacy culture [and] other systems of oppression [are] about dehumanization,” Rachel Vicente shares. “Equity work is about [ensuring] people [can] be human - all of the emotions, life experiences, and complexities that come with it, and for us to be able to learn from each other and grow from each other.” Rachel Vicente is the founder and CEO of Rachel Vicente Consulting, where she provides coaching, professional development, and project-based engagement services to schools, organizations, and companies to achieve e ..read more

Hello and welcome to this weeks episode of the Intersection Podcast!  We don’t often equate creativity and imagination with DEI.  My guest is busting that myth and bringing a unique lens to the way we approach DEI. We’re joined by Michaela Ayers, a multi-disciplinary artist and Art Historian who blends creativity into DEIA. Michaela is a seasoned facilitator who offers a human-centered approach to learning that promotes true and lasting behavior change. A spirited storyteller, Michaela is also the creator of the Black Her Stories project, a platform celebrating the leadership and con ..read more