Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Annabel Lissade. She is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, pursuing a double major in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she brings a unique global perspective to her academic and professional endeavors. Annabel is passionate about addressing systemic challenges and leveraging innovative solutions to create sustainable change, particularly in education and governance. Her academic focus, coupled with leadership roles and practical experiences, positions her as a forward-thinking changemaker dedicated to making a meaningful impact especially in her home country of Haiti.

Connect with Annabel!

LinkedIn: Annabel Lissade https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabel-lissade-0589a9229/

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Alycea Rae. Alycea Adams is an entrepreneur who embodies authenticity and grit. A fourth-year student at UNC-Chapel Hill, she will graduate in May with a B.S. in Information Science and minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Planning, earning Summa Cum Laude honors. With 1.2M+ followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Alycea collaborates with top beauty brands like Aveda, Mielle Organics, and Sephora. She was recently named a Sephora Squad 2025 creator.

Passionate about technology and storytelling, she co-founded HairMatch, a consumer app recommending hair products based on hair type. She also launched the She Means Business podcast, featuring industry leaders. After graduation, Alycea will join IBM as a brand specialist in their sales program.

Connect with Alycea! 

Instagram/Tiktok/Youtube: Alycearae

Podcast: Shemeansbusinesspodcasts

HairMatch: HairMatchapp 

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, reflects on her journey with the podcast thus far. In this heartfelt solo episode, Raven opens up about the challenges of balancing college life, internships, and hosting a platform dedicated to empowerment and inclusion. She shares how taking time to pause and reflect has helped her realign with her purpose, set intentional goals, and move toward the next level of growth. Tune in for an honest conversation about the ups and downs of juggling multiple commitments and the importance of giving yourself grace while pursuing your passions.

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Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Dr. LaTricia “LT” Frederick. She is a dynamic speaker, passionate field researcher and certified professional coach who has spent more than 20 years enabling and empowering corporate leaders to successfully climb the ranks, develop highly productive, engaging teams and transform organizations. She currently serves as the Head of the Executive Talent Solutions group at Cisco Systems, Inc. where she leads a global team focused on the development and acceleration of executive talent and organizational growth initiatives.

Connect with Dr.LT
LinkedIn: LaTricia (LT) Frederick

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Kennedy Byrd is a third-year JD/LLM candidate in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law at the University of Miami School of Law. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Race and Social Justice Law Review. Originally from North Carolina, Kennedy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in Journalism and minors in Entrepreneurship and Social & Economic Justice. Kennedy is focused on pursuing a career in the sports field, with a particular interest in policies that promote equity in women's athletics. At the University of Miami, she is involved in the Innocence Clinic, the Entertainment and Sports Law Society, and the Black Law Students Association.

Connect with Kennedy!
Linkedin: Kennedy Byrd 
Instagram: Kennedy.b3

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Shelmina Abji As an immigrant of humble beginnings and a first-generation college graduate, Shelmina rose up to become one of the highest-ranking women of color at IBM while raising her two children as a single mother. With experience leading global teams in multiple sectors, she has delivered over $1 billion in revenues annually, maintained high client satisfaction as well as team morale, and hired and promoted hundreds of professionals. In pursuit of her passion for creating gender equality in leadership, Shelmina now speaks at corporations, colleges, and conferences globally and serves on the advisory board of Girl Up.  Endorsed by CEO of Hilton Chris Nassetta, President of Marriott International Stephanie Linnartz, and CFO of W. W. Grainger Deidra Merriwether, Shelmina’s new book, Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work, is a proven blueprint to accelerate career success and fast track into leadership roles by being strategic and intentional – especially for women who are underrepresented in their fields.

Connect with Ms.Abji:
Book: Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work
LinkedIn: Shelmina Abji

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Michelle Gethers. She recently served as Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Corporate Responsibility for Visa. She lead the company's global strategy for growth in inclusive and diverse talent, social impact and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining Visa, Michelle served as the President and CEO at United Way of Greater Greensboro where she and her team focused on partnerships to end poverty. Michelle also held a variety of roles over 21 years at American Express, including Senior Vice President and General Manager of Card Operations. She also has experience as an entrepreneur with a consulting firm, as a certified public accountant, and as an author. Her accomplishments and career have been featured in Ebony, Black Enterprise, Working Mother, Biz Life, Triad Business Journal's 2017 Most Admired CEO and 2021 Leader in Diversity, and as a speaker at two regional TEDxGreensboro talks.

Connect with Ms.Gethers:
LinkedIn: Michelle Gethers 
Book: The Next Level: Breakthrough Performance Anchored by Faith 

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Dr. Caprice D. Hollins. Dr.Hollins is a distinguished figure in the realm of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). As the co-founder of Cultures Connecting, she has passionately championed efforts to bridge racial and cultural divides. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Hollins is a seasoned facilitator of race-related workshops. Her influential book, "Inside Out: The Equity Leader's Guide to Undoing Institutional Racism," has left a mark in the field. Notably, she graced the TEDx stage in Seattle in 2020, sharing proactive insights on advancing race conversations.

Connect with Dr. Hollins:
Caprice Hollins ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/culturesconnecting/
Her book: Inside Out

Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Shaunté Kinch. Shaunté Kinch, CEO of Empact Global and an expert with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and aerospace engineering. Kinch, a transformative force in healthcare, holds a Master's in Mechanical Engineering and certifications in Lean Practice, Project Management, and Systems Engineering. Her impactful work at Stanford Hospital and UCLA Health System focused on improving clinical quality and patient satisfaction. Kinch's innovative approach includes leveraging AI for equitable access to quality care. As an Innovation Architect with NASA, she applies her problem-solving skills to address significant challenges. Kinch's leadership has earned her accolades, such as Profiles in Diversity’s Black Leadership Award and the 2020 Working Mother of the Year, showcasing her commitment to global change through empathy and ingenuity.

Connect with Shaunté:
Linkedin: Shauneté Kinch
Website: https://www.empactglobal.com/