We are thrilled to recognize the remarkable talent acquisition leaders who demonstrate resilience and dedication as they navigate the challenges presented by the dynamic landscape of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in the ever-evolving tech industry. Their leadership has played a pivotal role in cultivating a workplace culture that celebrates differences and ensures everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.
About
Women Impact Tech has identified the most remarkable talent acquisition leaders who are driving forces in reshaping the landscape of tech careers by consistently championing initiatives that prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
In a field where the importance of diversity and inclusion cannot be overstated, these professionals serve as prime examples of how the world can advance gender equity and build a more inclusive tech industry.
Criteria Selection
Our distinguished panel of judges comprised of seasoned professionals from various sectors within the technical field, offering a wide range of expertise and experiences.
Each judge meticulously assessed the professional accomplishments and leadership qualities of the nominees. They were invited to evaluate the entries using our comprehensive criteria through an online judging system.
Meet the 2024 Talent Acquisition Leader Honorees
The Top 25 Women of Impact are at the forefront of empowering the next generation of women in the tech industry to flourish.
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Adonis Wooten-Herron
(He/Him)
North America Diversity Recruiting Lead - Women's Initiative, LGBTQ+ and PwD
Texas
Adonis is a champion for his diversity and equity recruiting efforts based on three pillars:
Ally in Action (intentional listening): Auditing the conversation to ensure that the proper voices are heard and represented in Accenture’s candidate outreach, interview representation, and process creation. Adonis consistently seeks to listen for understanding, knowing he may never fully understand their lived experiences, and utilizes his privilege to amplify and elevate for change.
Speak up: Questioning policy, role qualifications, partnerships, and decisions to ensure that equity is not only a part of their processes but that it remains a foundational piece of recruiting. Adonis uses his voice to help create and amplify candidate and people engagement programs.
North America Partnerships: Aligning intentionally with organizations across North America that give them multiple pipelines of diverse talent to support current and future hiring demand. This helps his team ensure that their diverse hiring pipelines are healthy and robust, leading to successful hiring results and adoption.
Breana Tobias
(She/Her)
Employer Brand and Communications Manager
Michigan
Breana is a crucial partner to Motive’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, along with each of their Employee Resource Groups, to identify and drive partnerships that will help them attract more diverse talent. This includes getting buy-in and mapping out the ROI for these initiatives and partnerships to their executive team each year.
Breana’s team creates campaigns that highlight team members and underrepresented groups both internally and externally, which is integral to helping them attract, retain, and hire candidates from different backgrounds. Highlighting these individuals also allows the team and prospects the opportunity to connect and find communities at Motive.
Breana also supports and enables the recruiting team with an outreach strategy to ensure that they are following up with 100% of the diverse prospects in each of their candidate pools. For those whose background/skillset doesn’t align with one of their current openings, her team nurtures each of them to keep Motive top of mind, notify them when new roles become available, and give them an insider look at what it’s like to work at Motive.
Erica Pinkler
(She/Her)
Senior Talent Partner, Digital Business Acceleration
North Carolina
Erica is a talent acquisition leader who always leads her sourcing with care, community, and curiosity in mind. She ensures an inclusive hiring strategy by intentionally seeking out candidates through various channels, which has led to a team of new hires that represent a best-in-class diverse workforce at Constellation Brands.
Erica actively advocates for DEIB through participation in their internal Business Resource Group’s workshops and awareness campaigns, all while fostering a culture of understanding and appreciation for different perspectives and driving innovation through diversity hiring.
Erica also has remarkable skills at bringing great people together. She continues to build connections and nurture networks within and outside of Constellation Brands to create opportunities for underrepresented groups, encouraging a sense of belonging and providing support for professional growth to all candidates.
Kimberlee McAuliffe
(She/Her)
Talent Acquisition Manager
New York
Kimberlee is a dedicated advocate for the diversity of Peloton’s teams. She has successfully backed an initiative to hire a sourcing team to help outwardly search for candidates, which resulted in two new employees who have diversified their candidate pool. She has also managed Peloton’s summer associate program, where they successfully hired 6 new women in technical roles.
Just recently, Kimberlee accepted a leadership role in the Women’s Alliance employee resource group at Peloton where she plans to make an even broader impact, empowering females throughout Peloton and the broader community.
Kimberlee has also partnered with Woman Impact Tech to host an event at Peloton HQ. She moderated the panel session alongside women in tech leadership roles who spoke about the challenges that females face in a traditionally male-dominated space.
Kulwinder Verma Scott
(She/Her)
Global VP, Talent Acquisition
California
At The Trade Desk, their people are their top priority. They know that their company culture is key to their success and that they need a diverse set of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to achieve their mission of protecting the open internet. This is why they embrace inclusion and belonging in everything they do, from celebrating the diversity of their workforce to making a positive impact on their industry.
As the Vice President of Talent Acquisitions, Kulwinder fulfills this mission by building their global talent pipeline to reach women and underreported groups, which includes sponsoring and recruiting at diversity-focused conferences. She also partners with organizations and nonprofits that work to improve and diversify their industry. Additionally, Kulwinder creates inclusive hiring practices within the overall recruitment process that include diverse interview panels, a framework for objectivity, and uncovering unconscious biases within the interview process.
Nikisha Ramsey
(She/Her)
Director Talent Acquisition
Illinois
In 2021, Nikisha returned to United Airlines to re-centralize the Talent Acquisition function. During that time, she developed a Diversity Sourcing team that is responsible for engaging and cultivating talent for United. This team develops relationships with diverse professional organizations to amplify the opportunities that United provides and ensures that they have the best talent for their professional roles.
In addition, Nikisha owns the Early Careers program, which is critical to the future of United’s workforce. The program has doubled in size since 2021, with over 400 students and early career professionals joining the organization. This program keeps diversity and equity top of mind, providing students with access, opportunities, and skills to start their careers.
Additionally, Nikisha is actively involved in her community and mentors young professionals both inside and outside of United.
Sophia Chin
(She/Her)
Executive Director - Communications, People & Client Experience
California
Studying psychology and sociology in college, Sophia Chin has always been intrigued by the mind, human behavior, and the incredible influence of the environment on both.
Sophia is involved in UBS’s global program, which is focused on increasing the representation of women in leadership roles. This involves working closely with executive sponsors and core team members in multiple locations to support the development of female directors across five regions, ten countries, and six functions. Sophia is dedicated to elevating women within the fintech sector, serving as a mentor, and continually seeking opportunities to showcase UBS and their commitment to diversity in their tech communities.
Rebecca Ramos
(She/Her)
Chief People Officer
Milwaukee
Rebecca Ramos is a strategic and forward-thinking Chief People Officer at Caresyntax with a talent for creating a culture of trust and open communication. She is passionate about fostering a people-first culture that prioritizes integrity, open communication, and continuous growth.
Rebecca works tirelessly to elevate the role and perception of women both in her organization and beyond. She supports women to be decisive, daring, ambitious, and persistent all while striving to grow into leadership within their organizations.
Adrian Russo
(He/Him)
VP of Talent
Maryland
In concert with the leadership at Swish Analytics, Adrian and his team have been able to partner with amazing organizations to more than triple their representation of women employed at Swish Analytics.
They’ve invested in strategic partnerships with multiple organizations inside the sports industry and the technology field to onboard the best female talent available.
Adrian is proud that leadership trusts his hiring teams to partner with them on this journey.
Carli Chiodo
(She/Her)
Senior Program Manager, Talent Brand
Houston
At GitLab, Carli is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace. Her major contributions includeensuring their brand messaging is inclusive and accurately represents both their current workforce and the talent theyare seeking to attract;identifying sponsorship opportunities that offer networking, learning, and speaking opportunities for their Team Member Resource Group (TMRG); and enhancing brand visibility within diverse communities to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion and their efforts towards creating a more diverse workforce.
Johna Little
(She/Her)
Director, Talent Acquisition
Ohio
Johna and her talent acquisition team at NiSource have a deep commitment to bringing in high-performing and diverse talent to build out their teams. Their mission is fueled by their dedication to prioritizing social and economic equity of not only their employees but of their customers and the communities they serve. Johna and the NiSource team consistently strive to cultivate an equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplace that is rich and rewarding for each and every member of their team.
NiSource has aligned its organizational DEI goals to achieve these overall company objectives by driving an enhanced talent strategy, which elevates support from all levels of leadership and fosters a culture of accountability. They offer a slate of opportunities to advance their initiatives, including a Women’s Summit, Inclusive Leadership Training, a series of diversity-focused conferences, seven dedicated Employee Resource Groups, and more.
Kimberly Johnston
(She/Her)
Director of People and Talent
Florida
Kim Johnston brings over two decades of extensive experience in talent acquisition and people business to her role as Director of People and Talent at Henry Meds. Transitioning into the position just a year ago, Kim’s leadership has been instrumental in the company’s growth and development. Joining as the 39th employee, she has witnessed and contributed to Henry Meds’ remarkable expansion to almost 400 employees across the United States and Poland. Kim’s expertise and dedication underscore her pivotal role in shaping Henry Meds’ workforce strategy, fostering a culture of inclusivity, and driving organizational success through effective talent management practices.
Henry Meds prioritizes skill sets over educational backgrounds, ensuring that degrees are not required for roles within the organization. With a fully remote workforce policy, Henry Meds is committed to hiring the best person for the role regardless of their geographical location, fostering inclusivity and diversity. The company’s global presence, including a significant workforce in Poland of almost 100 employees, highlights its commitment to international diversity. Additionally, Henry Meds aligns its marketing and communication strategies to maximize outreach to underrepresented groups, actively promoting diversity and equity within its workforce. Looking ahead, the organization plans to further strengthen its commitment to diversity by creating Employee Resource Groups in 2024, aimed at building strong communities within the company and supporting initiatives for inclusivity and belonging.
Loni Olazaba
(She/Her)
Talent Acquisition Professional
California
Loni has recruited technology professionals and led recruiting teams in the valley for 20+ years, working for established organizations such as Google, PayPal, TiVo, LinkedIn, and Robinhood.
In 2020, after becoming Co-Chair of LinkedIn’s Employee Resource Group, Hola! (Hispanics of LinkedIn Alliance), she decided to dedicate her career to inclusion, equity, and belonging in the workplace with a focus on advocacy and inclusive hiring efforts. Loni has a sincere passion for equality, helping people gain access to opportunities and flourish in their careers.
She is also a wife and the mother of four children, and she enjoys quality family time, music, meditation, nature, and yoga!
Priscyla Temblador
(She/Her)
Senior Manager, Management & Tech Recruiting
California
Priscyla has a deep commitment to recruiting, engaging, and retaining people from all backgrounds. At McMaster-Carr, she has established recruiting partnerships with organizations that support the advancement of female technologists to engage with this talented pool on their career goals and share their opportunities.
Priscyla has also co-led the creation of an inclusive new-hire onboarding curriculum to ensure that every new team member has access to similar support and knowledge about their workplace at the start of their career.
Priscyla has also spent her time mentoring dozens of employees at McMaster-Carr, including those from underrepresented groups, to provide them with advice, support, and guidance as they navigate the workplace.
Amy Civilikas
(She/Her)
Director, Human Resources, Digital Products
Maryland
Amy and the Marriott International Global Technology & Digital HR team have several initiatives to be proud of, focused on the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in their workplace.
Amy and her team have established the Women in Tech Forum for their Global Technology and Digital associates. This is an associate-led effort designed to accelerate the development and movement of women technologists into roles of increasing responsibility and influence in the workplace.
They also hosted their first-ever Codefest. Over 100 associates from across the globe came together to brainstorm, design, and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. One of the winning teams was a team of two incredibly talented women who called themselves the AI Wonder Women!
They have also worked to expand their Global Technology and Digital internship programs and develop career path planning for early career professionals to establish and grow a diverse tech talent pipeline.
Diana Frascella
(She/Her)
Senior Director, Talent Acquisition
Massachusetts
Diana has made significant strides in promoting gender equity at DraftKings. One of her major, ongoing accomplishments includes spearheading initiatives in Talent Acquisition over the past four years that have increased female and ethnic diversity within the organization.
Diana has also developed an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and employer brand that authentically portrays the inclusive culture of DraftKings, effectively communicating what it’s like to work there, which has helped them attract a more diverse pool of candidates. She has also implemented Talent Acquisition dashboards to track funnel metrics for candidates, ensuring their interview processes are equitable across genders and ethnicities.
Katherine Burnham
(She/Her)
Talent Acquisition Advisor
Tennesee
Kat sits on the Women of Kellanova (WOK) Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) Leadership Team and provides strategic advisement to the BERG on partnership and networking opportunities to enhance the attraction of female talent to Kellanova.
In addition to her leadership and partnership with Women Impact Tech, Kat has been instrumental in championing relationships with other diverse organizations, which have resulted in more equitable hiring at Kellanova.
Kat is a natural leader and connector. She drives inclusivity and engagement within the North America TA Team by leading a culture committee that brings the virtual team together in fun ways throughout the year.
Kimberly Prescott
(She/Her)
Director Talent Acquisition, Global Strategic Skills & Pipelining
Missouri
At Bayer, Kimberly and her colleagues are dedicated to helping employees find their sense of purpose, achieve success, inspire others, and grow both at work and at home. Putting these values into practice has ensured Kimberly’s ability to achieve a balance between her work and personal priorities, allowing her to excel in my career and as a female leader. It is Kimberly’s goal to also cultivate this experience for the talent that Bayer interacts with.
Kimberly consistently strives to meet this goal by, aligning organizational marketing and communication strategies to maximize outreach to underrepresented groups with a special focus on attracting female talent. She regularly connects with talent to provide mentorship, skill building, job opportunities, and ways to grow their professional network in and outside of Bayer. She also operationalizes diversity initiatives into Bayer’s recruitment standard processes to ensure a constant focus on diverse panels, diverse slates, gender bias language via detection software, and stakeholder upskilling, which includes interview and unconscious bias training.
Mayokia Fowler
(She/Her)
Global Talent Acquisition & DEIB Professional
Texas
Mayokia was most recently the Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Vercel, where she collaborated closely with executives to shape the company’s talent strategies.
Mayokia plays a pivotal role in constructing and scaling world-class People organizations, leveraging industry-leading technologies, AI, and data insights to advance inclusive hiring practices and foster a sense of belonging within hyper-growth companies.
During her time at Vercel, Mayokia authored the company’s DEIB framework, implemented inclusive hiring best practices globally, and served as a leader of the Black ERG and mentor to junior employees of color.
Brea Hall
(She/Her)
Manager, Recruiting Events
Pennsylvania
Brea Hall leads the Recruiting Events team at Roblox, which is responsible for creating unique and meaningful opportunities for external talent to get to know Roblox as a product and as an employer. The top priority of these experiences is to help their external community understand the technical challenges that Roblox is solving through interactions with their internal team.
At Roblox, they believe that their employee base should be as diverse as the experiences that exist on their platform. To achieve this goal, Brea’s team, in partnership with their Engineering, Research, and Talent Teams, aims to diversify Roblox’s workforce by partnering with organizations, such as Women Impact Tech, to meet talent from underrepresented backgrounds and help them explore Roblox as an employer of choice!
Ellen Walker
(She/Her)
Vice President, Human Capital Management
Illinois
As the Vice President of Human Capital Management at Neuberger Berman, Ellen makes it her mission to bring diverse viewpoints into their interview process and create a supportive and empowering environment for women.
The team at Neuberger Berman understands that the success of each of their colleagues directly impacts the success of their clients and the firm itself, and they place a special focus on providing every employee with opportunities to develop as well as feel empowered and supported. This requires an intentional and thoughtful process that seeks to understand specific needs and individual backgrounds.
Katie Korrison
(She/Her)
Manager, Diversity Recruitment
Illinois
Katie Korrison, Manager, Diversity Recruitment at Abbott, has been recognized for her game-changing work in diverse recruitment.
Applying new thinking and strategies to identify and recruit candidates, Katie has doubled the number of hires made via diversity career fairs, mobilizing hundreds of hiring managers to participate and help scout talented candidates. She added over 5,000 resumes of diverse candidates into Abbott’s talent community, including a number of passive candidates they may have otherwise missed. She has also effectively leveraged diverse media channels to build Abbott’s brand and reputation as an employer that values diversity.
Krystin McDermott
(She/Her)
Manager II, Talent Acquisition
Illinois
Krystin learned networking at a young age when her dad would tie a balloon around her wrist to keep track of her while she went around making friends at events. She’s always found joy in talking to people and developed a passion for people. She graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and found a love for recruiting within her sorority, Sigma Kappa. She started her formal recruitment career in the digital design industry, jumped over to the consulting space, and joined Peapod Digital Labs (PDL) in March of 2020.
Krystin is currently the Talent Acquisition Manager at PDL, leading a team that recruits across Digital, Corporate, and Commercial roles. During her time at PDL, she rolled out a full-scale Co-Op program, helped implement Textio (a tool aimed at creating more inclusive and unbiased job postings), and hired 17 diverse Director-level positions in 2021, in support of the company’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging goals. She fosters PDL’s culture by recruiting those who are passionate about growing and thriving in a fast-paced environment. Krystin is also one of the leaders of Mind Over Matter; PDL’s mental health inclusion network and was named a Top Woman in Grocery for 2022 by Progressive Grocer.
Nandini Krishnamoorthy
(She/Her)
North American Staffing and Operations
Georgia
Nandini has done so much at Capgemini for the advancement of gender equity at Capgemini.
She has been integral to Capgemini’s ICARE (Inspire, Coach, Accelerate, Returnship, Equity) program, created to inspire, coach, and accelerate the return to employment for Women. This brand-new initiative is already starting to show an increase in diversity within the workforce, despite recent market conditions.
Nandini has instituted a process for the ICARE program for women who are interviewing with Capgemini after a long gap in their work history to be given fair consideration and to be evaluated on a scale that is commensurate for such aspirants. This equity treatment is a much-needed aspect of ICARE propelling them to the achievement of the goals that all parties are longing to achieve.
The Inspire pathway helps to facilitate women who are passionate to return to work, publicize, and invite women to join the Capgemini workforce. Coaching creates focused cohorts for ICARE candidates out of existing training programs and establishes buddy and mentor programs to help them build on their strengths and confidence. The Accelerate aspect certifies Agile and Cloud programs for hyper-scalers (Cloud providers), conducts mock interviews, and sets thresholds with Business Units and Projects to staff ICARE candidates.
Sheila Adasczik
(She/Her)
AVP, Talent Acquisition Corporate Recruitment
North Carolina
As a diverse female leader, Sheila is dedicated to advocating for underrepresented candidates, diligently working to provide equitable opportunities and foster an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
Sheila has spearheaded initiatives within the corporate recruitment function at LPL and consistently advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion, to engage stakeholders and foster a culture of change and awareness.
Leveraging Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), strategic partnerships, and industry conferences, Sheila actively seeks out innovative approaches to attract and hire diverse talent, ensuring LPL’s workforce reflects the inclusivity they champion.
Justin Patterson
HR Strategic Advisor - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity
Memphis
Justin Patterson is an HR Strategic Advisor in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at FedEx Services. With a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, Justin completed the P2L (Professional to Leader) cohort two years ago, where he gained valuable leadership skills, collaborated with colleagues across FedEx, and expanded his expertise. Recently, Justin was honored with the Federal Express Corporation Five Star Award, the company’s most prestigious accolade, recognizing his exceptional performance and outstanding contributions to FedEx Services.
Yolanda Lindsay
(She/Her)
Global Diversity & Inclusion - Women’s Executive Development Program Manager
Charlotte
With a 20+ year record of leading teams, growing talent, and executing strategic programs across various industries and community outreach groups, Yolanda Lindsay, Senior Vice President and Diversity & Inclusion Leader at Bank of America embodies a commitment to excellence while caring for people. Known for her innovative and energized approach, she leads the Women’s Executive Development Program, dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that aligns with the company’s mission to serve its employees, clients, and communities.
Tracy Pointer
(She/Her)
Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Atlanta
Having spent over 34 years at UPS, Tracy Pointer serves as the Senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, where she is deeply engaged in developing and overseeing programs and strategies to attract and retain talent for a global organization. With over 20 years of field experience in Human Resources, Tracy is also a passionate D&I Ambassador, leading the African American Business Resource Group to foster an inclusive workplace.
Beyond her corporate role, she founded GROW: Golfers Recognizing Opportunities for Women Incorporated, a nonprofit that empowers Black women to play golf for business purposes, promoting diversity and inclusion within the sport.
As the Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition – Corporate and Executive Recruiting at Victoria’s Secret, Tiffany (Lukhaupt) Desenberg is dedicated to connecting individuals with opportunities that align with their professional aspirations. She is passionate about understanding how people want to grow and helping them take their next steps. With a focus on finding the right talent for corporate and executive roles, Tiffany plays a key role in shaping the future of Victoria’s Secret by fostering a culture of growth and opportunity.
Tien Van
(He/Him)
Talent Acquisition Specialist
California
At Ouster, Tien is committed to hiring more women on this technical staff. Every day, Tien refines processes, meets with senior business leaders, and ensures opportunities for diverse talent.
Sheri Ryan
Vice President, Talent Acquisition
New York
Sheri Ryan, the Vice President of Talent Acquisition, drives Presidio’s global mission to accelerate digital transformation. She leverages over 25 years of experience in Human Resources and is dedicated to building a workforce that mirrors the diverse, global customer base Presidio serves while fostering an inclusive workplace that addresses the unique needs of all employees. By promoting equity and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive, Sheri ensures that Presidio’s talent strategies support its innovation and growth objectives.
Shareem Annan
(She/Her)
Director, DEI Strategic Partnerships
Virginia
With over 15 years of HR experience across various industries, Shareem Annan is the Director of DEI Strategic Partnerships at Elevance Health. She excels in tackling organizational challenges and building diverse, empowered workforces. Shareem’s expertise includes strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, and organizational development. She is passionate about Diversity and Inclusion, having contributed to a Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit and serving as the Diversity and Inclusion Director on the Dulles SHRM chapter.
Scott Barshay
(He/Him)
Senior Director, Client Services Operations
Arizona
Scott Barshay, Global Contingent Workforce Leader at Bristol Myers Squibb, has dedicated his career to embedding DEI into the core of business operations. He has consistently advocated for DEI not merely as an initiative but as a fundamental aspect of organizational success, recognizing that inclusive teams thrive due to the diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds they encompass.
Scott firmly believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion should be central to any organization’s priorities. His commitment to creating inclusive teams is evident from his experiences, including his work in the hospitality industry, where he collaborated with school districts to provide work opportunities for neurodivergent high school students. The lasting impact of this program on the students has fueled his passion for DEI for over 25 years. More recently, he established an LGBT+ Employee Resource Group for North America, which offers support, a sense of belonging, and a network of like-minded individuals and organizations.
For Scott, advocating for DEI is more than just a professional passion; it is a core aspect of his identity. He remains dedicated to ensuring that everyone is represented, invited to participate, and celebrated for their differences, believing that the work towards inclusivity is ongoing and essential.
Sarah Green
(She/Her)
Senior Program Manager
Philadelphia
Sarah Green, Senior Program Manager at Peloton Interactive, actively seeks out and amplifies diverse team members’ voices and perspectives, sharing their stories across Peloton’s channels to highlight and celebrate their contributions.
In addition to elevating internal voices, Sarah supports and promotes diverse vendors who enhance Peloton’s recruiting efforts. By partnering with these vendors, she helps enrich the company’s recruiting practices and foster a more inclusive hiring process.
Sarah is also committed to ensuring diverse representation in Peloton’s candidate pools. She engages with professional networks that support underrepresented communities, working to attract and include a wide range of candidates in the recruitment process.
Samantha Pfeiffer
(She/Her)
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
Delaware
Samantha Pfeiffer, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at LiveRamp, has pioneered targeted recruitment strategies and formed key partnerships that significantly expanded the pipeline of diverse candidates at LiveRamp. Her initiatives led to a 30% increase in DEI hires within the Sales Organization for the fiscal year 2024.
In addition to her recruitment achievements, Samantha plays a vital role on the board of the Women@ ERG. Through this position, she drives initiatives that empower women in the workplace and foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging.
Samantha consistently exceeds recruitment targets, maintaining a 100% acceptance rate and an average time to fill of 40 days. Her performance highlights her commitment to building a more inclusive workforce by prioritizing diversity in all aspects of talent acquisition.
Roberto Bonito
Talent Supply Chain for LATAM & Talent Acquisition Director for USA
New York
At Wipro, Roberto consciously makes space for women in technology in the USA & LATAM. His devotion to diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring starts at the top with him and makes waves throughout the organization.
RhauCheeca Burton
(She/Her)
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Atlanta
RhauCheeca Burton is based out of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area and works at McMaster Carr as a Talent Acquisition Specialist.
Reginald Stewart
(He/Him)
Director - HR Business Partner
Washington DC
Reginald, a diverse male leader, advocates for underrepresented candidates. He utilizes his position to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through performance objectives by recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that diverse talent is considered in succession planning. Reginald also personally mentors individuals of a different race or gender than himself.
Olga Zhornitsky
(She/Her)
Senior Principal - Communication and Engagement
Illinois
Olga Zhornitsky, Senior Principal, Communication and Engagement at Discover Financial Services, established and now manages the Discover External Eminence Program, an initiative designed to enhance the external visibility and credibility of the company and its employees. By spotlighting Discover’s people and culture, the program helps attract diverse talent to the organization.
In collaboration with the Business Technology DEI Committee and the internal Women in Tech ERG, Olga has created opportunities for female technologists to attend and speak at external conferences. These events provide a platform for diverse employees to upskill and further their career growth, contributing to a more inclusive and empowered workforce.
Olga has also partnered with the talent acquisition and employer branding teams to build awareness of Discover’s tech roles. By engaging with diverse talent at conferences and hosting or sponsoring DEI events, she has generated diverse talent leads and promoted Discover Financial Services as an inclusive and appealing workplace.
Nia C. Smith
(She/Her)
Director Talent Management & DEI Leader
Atlanta
Nia Smith, Director of Talent Management and DEI Leader at Salesforce recognizes that women and underrepresented minorities are often over-mentored but under-sponsored. As a result, Nia developed the “Connections Builder” program, an internal retention and employee engagement initiative that pairs junior-level employees with senior-level leaders whom they would not typically have access to. The program, which includes a 7-week mentorship rotation, has successfully increased employee engagement, mentorship, and sponsorship among historically marginalized employees.
In her role as an internal coach, Nia has provided valuable guidance to numerous employees, predominantly from underrepresented minority communities. Her coaching has led to improved retention, higher engagement, and several success stories, including promotions, for those she has mentored.
Nia is also a trusted advisor to executive leaders and business partners, collaborating to design and refine talent systems and processes that integrate inclusion and equity throughout the talent life cycle. Additionally, she is a consultant advisor to the program manager leading Salesforce’s Office of Equality development programs, including initiatives focused on leadership development for women and underrepresented minorities.
She was a founding co-creator of the internal Women in Tech Summit for the CIO organization, where she facilitated sessions on branding and networking. Furthermore, Nia serves as an Equality Business Partner to Salesforce’s CIO, CFO, CMO, CLO, and CPO, helping drive inclusive strategies that advance representation, improve employee retention, and achieve the company’s ESG goals.
Nansa Sheriff
Assistant Director: Talent Attraction and Acquisition Recruiter, TA²
Atlanta
Nansa is a passionate Talent Attraction and Acquisition Recruiter, TA², dedicated to identifying and engaging top talent through creative sourcing methods, including social media. She leverages these platforms to connect with professionals, allowing them to showcase their skills and expertise.
Nansa is enthusiastic about sharing the EY culture, emphasizing the importance of creating communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and safe to share their unique experiences. Committed to recruiting through a diverse lens, Nansa actively participates in conferences and career fairs focused on women in technology, veterans and military families, and racially and ethnically diverse professionals, strengthening EY as an inclusive organization.
Molly Gregware
(She/Her)
Director, Early Career Recruiting & Programs Leader
San Francisco
Molly Gregware, the Director of Early Career Recruiting and Programs Leader at BILL, has significantly contributed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within her company. One of her notable achievements is the launch of the BILL Adelante program, which provides software engineering internship opportunities to underrepresented high school students to foster early exposure and development in STEM fields, paving the way for a more diverse future workforce.
As co-lead of the BILL’d Women Up ERG, Molly has been instrumental in driving programs that empower women at BILL. She has spearheaded initiatives focused on skill-building, learning programs, and networking events, enhancing engagement and growth for women within the organization.
Molly has also led several key diversity recruiting initiatives, including developing an ERG Ambassador program and an accommodative interview process. Her strategic engagement with external diversity partners has been crucial in creating a more representative hiring pipeline and ensuring a commitment to diverse recruitment practices.
Michael Russo
(He/Him)
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
Massachusetts
Michael Russo has been a driving force in advancing DEI as a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Dassault Systèmes. His dedication is evident through his active role as an evangelist for diversity events within the company, where he emphasizes the importance of these initiatives in fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
One of Michael’s significant contributions is the creation of a Diversity and Inclusion Statement that Dassault Systèmes adopted as a guiding philosophy. This statement underscores the company’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all employees, regardless of their background.
In addition, Michael co-founded and co-leads the Americas Pride group, an employee resource group dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where individuals can freely share their experiences and perspectives.
Michael’s commitment extends beyond his own community as an LGBTQ+ advocate. He is dedicated to being an ally for all underrepresented groups, advocating for their inclusion and support within the workplace. His work reflects a deep commitment to creating a diverse and equitable environment where everyone can thrive.
Matt Maliszewski
Supervisor Talent Acquisition - Global Technology Risk Management
Chicago
Matt is an award-winning professional with cross-functional experience in a variety of industries. He is accomplished in recruitment, sales, marketing, operations, critical analysis, account management, and product presentations. He has a proven track record of surpassing expectations, delivering exceptional client service, and developing business and profitability. He is an innovative, analytical, driven, and collaborative team player who motivates colleagues and achieves positive results.
Laura Alfano Victoria
(She/Her)
VP, Global Talent Acquisition
Canada
Laura Alfano Victoria is a strategic and results-driven Human Resources professional known for her ability to build mutually beneficial relationships, motivate teams, and influence stakeholders. She excels at managing multiple initiatives in a timely and cost-effective manner. A natural problem solver, Laura works well independently while being a highly collaborative and motivated team player. She is committed to continuous professional and personal development in dynamic and challenging environments. Her areas of expertise include Talent Acquisition, Policy and Process Design, Project Management, and Vendor Management.
Laura Reed
(She/Her)
Senior Recruiter
California
At Autodesk, Laura has proven success in diverse settings. As a diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate, she emphasizes inclusive hiring, career development, and business consulting. She is also an active collaborator at Autodesk Women’s ERG and Pride ERGs.
Laura Datzman
(She/Her)
Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition & DEI
Chicago
Laura Datzman, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition and DEI at Reverb has spearheaded various initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the company. She has been instrumental in implementing a structured, competency-based interviewing process designed to mitigate bias and ensure a fair hiring experience for all candidates.
Laura also designed and rolled out mandatory diversity training for interviewers, hiring managers, and recruiting team members. This comprehensive training covers topics such as the importance of executing a fair and consistent hiring process, strategies to reduce bias, frameworks for evaluating candidate responses, and guidance on providing inclusive and appropriate feedback.
Laura has also worked closely with her team and embedded effective strategies and tools into Reverb’s talent-sourcing process. These efforts focus on supporting recruiters in diversity sourcing and intentionally cultivating talent pools that include underrepresented communities, which aligns with Reverb’s DEI goals.
Kumari L. Williams
(She/Her)
VP of VIBE (Value, Inclusion, Belonging & Equity)
Atlanta
As Vice President of VIBE (Value, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity) at Workday, Kumari L. Williams leads the Programs & Operations team, ensuring the operational effectiveness of their initiatives and their impact across the enterprise. She provides strategic oversight for key programs including Giving & Doing, the Employee Belonging Council, and Disability Inclusion. With over 18 years of experience in Human Resources across multiple industries, Kumari’s dedication and expertise have been recognized through awards such as the Women Worth Watching in STEM accolade from Diversity Journal in 2020. Additionally, she contributes to the Atlanta Site leadership committee, further extending her influence in promoting a culture of inclusion.
Karen Berlin
(She/Her)
Senior Director, Talent Acquisition
New York
Karen is a trusted advisor and partner to senior leadership, focused on developing strategies that align with immediate and future talent needs. She leads and mentors a team of experienced talent acquisition specialists, guiding them in attracting and hiring top talent. Collaborating across Capgemini, Karen plays a key role in defining and building exciting talent attraction programs. She is dedicated to creating a standout candidate experience, ensuring that Capgemini is recognized as an amazing place to work. Leveraging data-driven insights, Karen supports and aligns recruitment efforts with the company’s diversity and inclusion goals for 2021 and beyond.
Julia Glancy
Diversity Talent Acquisition Manager & Chief of Staff
New York
Julia is a Diversity Talent Acquisition Manager & Chief of Staff at PwC. She is committed to crafting new diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and best practices in talent acquisition and beyond.
As a DEI practitioner within Visa’s Talent Acquisition organization, Jamie Daring plays a key role in ensuring that the recruiting process is equitable and inclusive for candidates from all backgrounds. She builds robust global DEI strategies and initiatives, driving continuous progress toward the company’s diversity commitments.
In addition to her DEI work, Jamie holds a leadership role in the Atlanta office’s ERG for Visa Black Employees (ViBE). For Jamie, this role goes beyond leadership—it’s about creating a support network, fostering connections within the Black tech community in the Atlanta Metro area, and cultivating a space where everyone feels seen and heard. She is dedicated to highlighting Black team members’ diverse experiences and perspectives and integrating these into Visa’s company culture.
Jamie also collaborates closely with legal and learning teams to create, lead, and implement global DEI training programs, furthering her commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace at Visa.
Ilona Sheynkman
(She/Her)
Manager, Global Leadership Recruitment
Chicago
Ilona Sheynkman, Manager of Global Leadership Recruitment at Adyen, has played a pivotal role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within her organization. She has designed and implemented equitable interview processes that significantly reduced bias, leading to a noticeable increase in hiring women across Adyen. Her efforts have created a more inclusive and fair recruitment process, impacting the company’s talent acquisition strategies.
In addition to her recruitment work, Ilona has been a key leader in Adyen’s Women ERG in North America. Under her leadership, the ERG has fostered an inclusive environment through various community-building initiatives and professional development workshops, covering important topics such as financial literacy, communication in the workplace, and understanding how the menstruation cycle can impact productivity.
Beyond her direct contributions, Ilona has also dedicated time to mentoring both internal and external talent to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment. By sharing her knowledge and empowering others to implement DEI best practices, she has influenced a broader change within the industry, helping others to make strides in creating more inclusive workplaces.
Emma Hollister
(She/Her)
Global Talent Acquisition Business Partner
Chicago
Emma Hollister, the Global Talent Acquisition Business Partner at Rocket Travel by Agoda, has made significant strides in advancing DEIB within the workplace through various impactful initiatives.
One of Emma’s key contributions has been her partnership with ChickTech, where she has played a crucial role in mentoring and supporting underrepresented women and youth eager to break into the tech industry.
In addition, Emma has been instrumental in creating and supporting the RTA Tech Ladies ERG. She took the lead in building a compelling case to secure budget approval for this brand-new initiative, which focuses on providing workshops and resources to empower women within Rocket Travel by Agoda. Her efforts have helped create a supportive community for women in the organization.
Moreover, Emma has strongly advocated addressing unconscious bias in the hiring process. She has actively participated in panel discussions to educate teams on the impacts of unconscious bias and share strategies to overcome it, furthering the company’s commitment to fair and equitable hiring practices.
Dayana Falcon
(She/Her)
Senior Manager, Career Infrastructure and Engagement
Los Angeles
At The Walt Disney Company, Dayana is shaping the next generation of HR Career Development experiences by democratizing and producing equal access to opportunity for all employees in the organization. In addition, she has served as the Strategy Lead for Women@Disney Leadership Team.
Aruna Sankaran
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Alpharetta
Aruna is a Talent Acquisition Specialist with extensive experience in both agency and corporate settings, passionately dedicated to aligning a company’s culture and business objectives with the right talent. She excels in full lifecycle recruiting, leveraging her deep understanding of various business models to effectively communicate with clients, hiring managers, and executive teams. Aruna is adept at sourcing candidates through diverse channels, including cold calls, job boards, networking events, and referrals. Her strong candidate management skills ensure a smooth hiring process, from interviews to offer negotiations, including employment verification, background checks, and immigration processing. Aruna’s expertise spans multiple industries, including IT, Healthcare, Retail, Finance, and more.
Amy Young
(She/Her)
Director, Executive Search/Talent Advisory
Atlanta
Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Google, Amy leads recruiting efforts for Knowledge & Information (Consumer), Research, and Tech & Society Executive Search Practice, including 30+ recruitment and research teams focused on attracting the most senior talent across Research, GenAI, engineering, product, UX, Trust, and Strategy & Operations.
Amber Allred
(She/Her)
VP, People
San Francisco
Amber Allred is the Vice President of People at Rondo Energy, where she focuses on fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace through several key initiatives:
Encouraging Open Communication and Feedback: Amber takes the initiative to meet with every new employee, fostering an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. This approach ensures that all voices are heard and valued.
Prioritizing Partnerships with Diverse Professional Organizations: Amber has actively partnered with organizations that support underrepresented groups across various industries, such as Women Impact Tech. These partnerships help promote job opportunities and build strong relationships with potential candidates.
Championing Neurodiversity: As the proud mother of an autistic son, Amber is passionate about advocating for neurodiversity. She has ensured that employees and candidates have easy access to necessary accommodations, recognizing the immense value that neurodiverse perspectives and skills bring to the organization.
Alexa Williams
(She/Her)
Senior Talent Brand Marketing Manager
North Carolina
As the Senior Talent Brand Marketing Manager at Atlassian, Alexa is deeply committed to advancing the company’s DEI initiatives through three key strategies:
Amplifying Voices through Storytelling: Alexa has created a platform to elevate the voices of underrepresented groups within Atlassian by sharing their stories, ensuring they are heard and celebrated.
Fostering Growth through Development Opportunities: Alexa actively organizes development opportunities, such as speaking engagements, that empower individuals from diverse backgrounds. These initiatives contribute to their personal and professional growth and inspire others to pursue similar paths.
Strengthening DEI Efforts through Strategic Partnerships: Through building strategic partnerships with DEI-focused organizations, Alexa has expanded Atlassian’s network, reinforced the company’s commitment to inclusivity, supported DEI hiring goals, and gained valuable insights.