Seen@Work: The Podcast

Anna Burns (she/they) is a Senior Consultant at Seen@Work. Prior to joining Seen@Work, Anna developed and facilitated workshops and professional development trainings dedicated to protecting and celebrating diversity in the workplace and beyond, with a particular focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Anna graduated with an MSc in Psychology of Mental Health and an MA in Social Anthropology, both from The University of Edinburgh in Scotland. 

During their time together, Anna and Natalia discussed how any workplace could make a space that prioritizes and discusses size inclusivity by adopting an erg dedicated to body and fat positivity.
---
We help businesses build more diverse and more inclusive workplaces. 
Want to learn more? Follow us on... 
Our Website: seenatwork.com 
Instagram: @seenatworkllc 
Twitter: @seenatworkllc 
LinkedIn: @seenatworkllc

Michelle Rojas (she/her/hers) is a Corporate Social Worker and self-described cross-sector athlete with a career spanning the intersection of social impact, non-profits, and mission driven companies. She is an LMSW and holds a BSW from the University of Pittsburgh and an MSW in Social Enterprise Administration from Columbia University. She currently works as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Manager at Imperfect Foods, a direct to consumer grocery delivery company working to eliminate food waste. At Imperfect Foods she develops, designs, and implements a DEI strategy at the nexus of racial justice and food justice. Previously, she served as the Director of Workforce Programs and DEI at Hot Bread Kitchen, a NYC based social enterprise. There she designed and managed programs that provided individuals impacted by gender, racial, social, and/or economic inequality in New York City with immediate stability and customized career pathways. Michelle is deeply passionate about leveling the playing field and creating more accessible, inclusive, and equitable environments for underrepresented populations. 

During their time together, Michelle and Natalia discussed the power of mentorship and how Michelle has worked with an employee resource group within her organization to build and develop mentorship programs that have seemed to touch every area across the company.
---
We help businesses build more diverse and more inclusive workplaces. 
Want to learn more? Follow us on... 
Our Website: seenatwork.com 
Instagram: @seenatworkllc 
Twitter: @seenatworkllc 
LinkedIn: @seenatworkllc

EJ Henry (he/him/his) is Head of US Inclusion & Diversity at AstraZeneca. He has experience in creating and managing enterprise wide tactical and strategic aspects of organizational development and leading enterprise-wide change of inclusion and diversity initiatives. He received an Executive MBA from top ranked Fox School of Business to gain transferable and practical skills to strengthen decision-making, expand global perspective, and enhance c-suite communication. EJ is a change practitioner and thought leader with experience in deploying inclusion strategies into the fabric of an organization coupled with LMS systems, HRIS system, executive development, and learning programs that drive high performance and ROI. He is also a Philanthropic Leader with a desire to improve the well-being of others, by participating as a Board Member for Need IN Deed Foundation, Campbell Soup Foundations, National Associations of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR). 

During their time together, EJ and Natalia discussed how EJ is pertaining and developing talent within AstraZeneca through an accelerator program for high potential women of color. This is a great strategy for building and enhancing that underrepresented talent and forgetting that strong internal pipeline up through leadership.
--
We help businesses build more diverse and more inclusive workplaces. 
Want to learn more? Follow us on... 
Our Website: seenatwork.com 
Instagram: @seenatworkllc 
Twitter: @seenatworkllc 
LinkedIn: @seenatworkllc

Lori Nishiura Mackenzie is a speaker, researcher and change agent in diversity, equity and inclusion. She is co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab and lead strategist, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  Lori was featured as one of the BBC’s 100 Women and in the award-winning documentary, bias. Lori brings 20 years of experience at companies including Procter & Gamble, Apple, eBay and PayPal. She is a board member of the Alliance for Girls and Watermark and an advisor to the Women’s Startup Lab and the Center for Institutional Courage.

During their time together, Lori and Natalia discussed many aspects of Lori’s research because much of it touches upon inclusion and the need to discuss inclusive leadership strategies, the need to reduce bias in the workplace and through our hiring and promotion practices. Lori also touches on her experiences and her identity as an Asian American woman and how her experiences drove her into this work.  

We help businesses build more diverse and more inclusive workplaces. 
Want to learn more? Follow us on... 
Our Website: seenatwork.com 
Instagram: @seenatworkllc 
Twitter: @seenatworkllc 
LinkedIn: @seenatworkllc

Kareli Lizarraga is an educator committed to expanding access for historically underserved communities. As Associate Director of the Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina, Kareli has focused on supporting the holistic development of the students she serves in culturally nourishing ways. Her experience as a first generation, low-income and undocumented student navigating the Ivy League guide her commitment to equity and social justice. 

In 2013, she was part of the first cohort of teachers with DACA status in the country and she taught 7th grade reading in Denver, Colorado. There, she created a classroom where Black and Latinx students could feel safe and culturally affirmed.

Kareli holds a Master of Science in Education and a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

During their time together, Kareli and Natalia discussed the importance of building spaces for different communities across your organization. Within her current role, Kareli focuses on building the Latinx community of students at the University of Pennsylvania. Her insight is invaluable to anyone looking to build spaces for community in any organization. 

We help businesses build more diverse and more inclusive workplaces. 
Want to learn more? Follow us on... 
Our Website: seenatwork.com 
Instagram: @seenatworkllc 
Twitter: @seenatworkllc 
LinkedIn: @seenatworkllc

Lydia is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Kohl's. She obtained her Diversity and Inclusion certificate from Cornell University and continues to influence work in that space. With more than 10 years of experience in the field, she is regarded as an expert sitting on multiple Chief Diversity Officer and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Councils. 

During their time together, Natalia and Lydia talked extensively about Employee Resource Groups and about how important these resource groups can be to supporting the business and ensuring that employees feel seen at every turn. They talked about how at Kohl's, employee resource groups are called business resource groups and Lydia explains how Kohl's thinks about supporting these groups to better support the business.

We help businesses build more diverse and more inclusive workplaces. 
Want to learn more? Follow us on... 
Our Website: seenatwork.com 
Instagram: @seenatworkllc 
Twitter: @seenatworkllc 
LinkedIn: @seenatworkllc

Originally from Harlem, NY & a current San Francisco resident, Antonio Brown (he/him) is a DEI practitioner specializing in organizing within educational and non-profit institutions. As a firm believer in the power of collective mobilization, he now assists organizations as they grapple with how to identify sustainable practices that will create communities of change. 

During their time together, Antonio and Natalia discussed the importance of inclusion and the role that everyone plays in building a more inclusive and more equitable workplace and how even well-intentioned people can be complicit in making a space less inclusive. They mentioned ways that you can make your workplace more inclusive and how you can contribute no matter your position an organization. 

#seenatwork
Instagram: @seenatworkllc
Twitter: @seenatworkllc
Website: seenatwork.com/podcast

Gary L. Davis (he/him), is a talent management and diversity leader with 10 years of expertise in strategy, engagement and program management in tech, nonprofit and education advocacy landscapes. He is passionate about integrating DE&I across the employee lifecycle to maximize engagement and organizational effectiveness. You can read his full bio on seenatwork.com/podcast. 

During their time together, Gary and Natalia dug deep into the many different strategies recruiters and hiring managers can use to support equitable processes. They spoke extensively about equity and the ways in which unbiasing our processes can really bring that forward through strategies and tactical examples.

#seenatwork
Instagram: @seenatworkllc
Twitter: @seenatworkllc
Website: seenatwork.com/podcast

D'André Carr (he/him) is the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Cleary, Gottleib, Steen & Hamilton a law firm located in New York City. Prior to working at the firm, D'André received his MBA from the Yale School of Management where he also worked as the program coordinator for the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale University. You can read his full bio on seenatwork.com/podcast. 

During our time together, D'André shared his reflections on the specific experiences associated with leading D&I initiatives at a law firm. He spoke of some of his challenges and some of his triumphs, all while sharing insights into the specific considerations D&I professionals must have when working within a legal firm. 

#seenatwork
Instagram: @seenatworkllc
Twitter: @seenatworkllc
Website: seenatwork.com/podcasts

Tina Gilbert (she/her) is currently the Sr. Director of Inclusion and Diversity at Accolade a Health Care Technology company. Prior Accolade, Tina was the first L&D leader at Teva Pharmaceuticals where she led the organization's evolution from diversity compliance management to recognizing its value as a business imperative. You can read her full bio on seenatwork.com/podcast.

During our time together, Tina outlined her tactical approach to building an allyship program. She also shared her overall advice for everyone seeking to effect change in their companies given the current push for racial justice. This episode is useful to anyone hoping to move from anti-racist education to anti-racist action. 

#seenatwork
Instagram: @seenatworkllc
Twitter: @seenatworkllc
Website: seenatwork.com/podcast