November DBP Member Conference: Measuring What Matters for People and Performance

Leslie Banks is a leader that takes her commitment to inclusion seriously, it’s as if she was born for this work. At a very early age Leslie had experiences that shined light on difference, access and equality, which were a driving point for her professional career.

Leslie has served in various human resources leadership roles at Fortune 500 and private organizations such as CDW, Walgreens, and HCSC (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois). She currently holds the role of Sr. Director of Global People, Inclusion, leading a global team at McDonald’s. Her focus is to drive McDonald’s inclusion ambitions and instill principles and practice within the McDonald’s culture, systems and processes. As a human resource leader, she is accustomed to defining the strategy, implementing fresh ideas, and managing programs that have enabled these organizations to reach business objectives. Leslie is committed to creating solutions that are not only practical but sustainable.

Outside of work Leslie is a twenty-five-year active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, presently serving as president leading over 250 members of the Eta Xi Sigma alumnae chapter of Oak Lawn, IL.

Leslie Banks is a proud alumnus of Elmhurst University, with a degree in Communication Studies and holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Roosevelt University. She is a native of Chicago and lives in the southwest suburbs with her husband Quincy B. Banks and boxer, Deuce. She enjoys traveling, journaling, and watching all the Marvel movies in sequence. Her favorite McDonald’s item is Hi-C orange or a sausage biscuit for breakfast.

Richelle Caday (she/her) is an Associate Director on Seramount’s Advisory team, where she guides organizations in designing data-driven inclusion strategies and employee resource group (ERG) initiatives that strengthen workplace culture. She brings extensive experience in ERGs and inclusive talent practices with a DEI-focused lens. Richelle also leads Seramount’s ERG Impact Awards program to recognize ERGs and their leaders for championing best practices that drive measurable impact within their organizations and communities.

Driven by community organizing and social advocacy, Richelle has a strong commitment to uplifting marginalized and underserved communities. Prior to Seramount, Richelle led student development and inclusion programs within higher education student affairs via cultural centers, cultural assemblies, and undergraduate student government. Heavily involved in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) spaces, Richelle has worked for and volunteered with various AANHPI nonprofits and community-based organizations at both local and national levels.

Richelle holds a BA in Psychology and in Nongovernmental Organizations and Social Change from the University of Southern California (fight on!). She is based in Los Angeles, California, where she was proudly born and raised. Richelle enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and going to the beach during her free time.

Barbara Frankel is the Managing Director of the Insights division at Seramount, working on global and US diversity surveys, national thought-leader projects, and groundbreaking research on inclusion and DEI topics and how to create family-friendly workplaces. She was the leader of the recent Pledge to Progress research project, which details corporate America’s progress in combating racism in the year since the murder of George Floyd.

Barbara is a thought leader, editor, writer, manager, and consultant in global and US diversity management, business development and marketing, business journalism, and human- and civil-rights advocacy.

She previously was executive editor and senior vice president at DiversityInc. Barbara has served on the national Board of Directors of GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) and the global advisory board of WeConnect International, a nonprofit that helps women entrepreneurs be corporate suppliers, as well as Garden State Equality.

Kate is Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) Manager at CCC Intelligent Solutions where she leads ERGs and oversees all inclusion, diversity, and equity work. Having only launched its DEI work and ERGs in 2021, Kate has focused on sustainable growth in her two and a half years at CCC, including expanding from four to six ERGs, establishing governance policies for ERGs, leading the Diversity Advisory Council, facilitating IDE-focused employee development, and most recently launching CCC’s inaugural philanthropy strategy.

Prior to joining CCC, Kate spent six years at a global consulting company where she played a pivotal role in the launch of its global DEI practice, including both client-focused DEI consulting as well as employee-supporting internal DEI practices. Prior to this, Kate’s focus was heavily in the nonprofit education and international development spaces supporting partners in East African and Central and South America.

Juliana Huffman is a Associate Director, Assessment and Strategy at Seramount. Juliana holds an MA in Social Justice and Education from the University College of London, as well as a BS of Education in Youth and Social Innovation, and a BA in American Studies with a concentration on Race and Ethnicity from the University of Virginia. Before pursuing her master’s degree in London, she was a Research Associate on the K-12 Team at EAB. Juliana currently lives outside of Washington, DC, and enjoys kickboxing, trying out new restaurants, and volunteering with youth.

Mija Lieberman (she/her) is an Associate Director of Advisory at Seramount, bringing extensive experience in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), talent acquisition, and DEI strategy.

Mija began her career in the tech and gaming industries, starting as a recruiting specialist at Niantic, where she improved recruiting operations and enhanced the candidate experience. She was also a founding member of the company’s first ERG and DEI council, helping to cultivate a culture of belonging. She later transitioned into a full-time DEI role at Unity as an ERG program manager, launching new ERGs and implementing scalable structures to support global growth. With a strong background in talent acquisition and ERGs, Mija understands the critical connection between recruitment and retention in building effective DEI strategies, and believes in meeting individuals where they are on their DEI journey. Mija holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Chinese from Vassar College and is a SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). A Bay Area native, she currently lives in San Francisco with her partner. She loves traveling and hopes to visit every continent and wonder of the world someday.

Toni Howard Lowe is a trailblazing inclusion executive and workforce strategist who has spent her career challenging world class companies to close gaps and build inclusive workplaces.  She currently serves as Head of Global Employee Engagement and Community at Equinix.

With over two decades of human resources and DEI leadership experience at organizations such as Huge, USAA, McAfee, and Ernst & Young, Toni is known for designing transformative strategies that drive equity, belonging, and business impact.

A sought-after speaker, panelist, and moderator, Toni is recognized for her authentic voice and actionable insights on diversity and leadership. Her expertise has been featured in Forbes, NBC News, Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Business Management Daily, Glassdoor and is a LinkedIn Learning instructor.

Toni’s contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the National Diversity Council’s Multicultural Leader Award, Walker’s Legacy Power15 Award, and a nomination as a Changemaker for The White House United State of Women’s Summit. She is also an alum of the Dallas Mayor’s Star Council.

A proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication, Toni continues to serve her community through mentoring and civic engagement. She resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and son.

Paul-Anne Robb is a Senior Research Analyst on the Insights team. In this role, Paul-Anne supports Chief Diversity Officer Collaborative partners with custom research on current and relevant topics. Prior to joining Seramount, she served as a research analyst at EAB, supporting multiple areas of inquiry and providing best-practice research to partners.

Paul-Anne graduated from UNC Greensboro with a Master of Education and from Dickinson College with a BA in Sociology. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, trying new places to eat, being a rom-com enthusiast, and being a novice sewist.

As Chief Diversity Officer at Lockton, Stephanie creates and brings to life innovative programs and practices that power organizational growth by attracting, developing,
and retaining high-performing diverse teams. Since joining Lockton, Stephanie has redesigned the company’s approach to DEI, aligning efforts nationally while fostering
global connections. She has embedded DEI into the full Associate Experience and lifecycle, ensuring inclusion is woven into every stage of employment.

Stephanie led the first-ever national Associate Resource Group (LEAN) Summit, creating a platform for engagement and collaboration, and secured Seramount’s 100 Best
Companies recognition for 2025, a testament to Lockton’s commitment to inclusive excellence. She focuses on designing, building, and implementing enterprise-level
initiatives aligned with Lockton’s DEI strategy to increase Associate engagement and belonging.
Stephanie advises leaders at all levels by sharing data-driven insights and best practices that drive accountability and transparency. Her work includes developing holistic
training solutions that enable inclusive leadership and create an informed workforce, embedding inclusive practices and language throughout the business, and building
strong relationships with diverse Associates and leaders to understand their experiences and needs. She is committed to creating inclusive Associate experiences that recognize and embrace differences across all spectrums, ensuring every individual feels valued and empowered to thrive.
Through her leadership, DEI is not a standalone initiative but a strategic driver of culture, engagement, and performance across Lockton.

Bridgette Scales is Managing Director of DBP and Seramount’s Advisory team. She is a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert with experience in sales and human resources. Bridgette joined Seramount from American Airlines in 2020, where she was the human resources business partner for customer experience. There, Bridgette was responsible for collaborating on people policies, talent management, career development, succession planning, departmental training initiatives, and aligning employee strategies with American Airline business goals.

Prior to her time at American Airlines, Bridgette spent 27 years at Proctor & Gamble. During her tenure at P&G, she was instrumental in developing and implementing strategies, programs, and processes across a complex and matrix organization. As a DEI practice leader for North America, Bridgette guided and counseled senior leaders on the integration of strategies that included awareness, cultural competency, leadership development, accountability and employee engagement. This led to better processes in the identification of high-potential employees, reduction in attrition rates of minorities, and increased DEI scores on the corporate employee survey.

Bridgette currently serves on the Global Advisory Board for the Women’s Leadership Forum within the P&G alumni network. She also sits on the She Runs It Foundation board’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

She has a BA from the University of Oklahoma, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a Senior HR Professional certification from HRCI.

Cory Schneider (he/him) is Director of Partner Success at Seramount, bringing extensive experience to leaders, and organizations to build more human-centered, equitable, and high-performing cultures. With over 15 years of experience spanning talent, culture, inclusion and leadership advisory and strategy, Cory is known for translating complex behavioral science and organizational dynamics into practical, scalable strategies for change.
Cory has partnered with Fortune 500s, high-growth startups, global nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations across industries including healthcare, finance, consumer goods, technology, and education. His work spans systemic and personal levels, from redesigning equitable talent strategies and embedding inclusion into performance systems, to coaching executives through complex transitions. He has led DEI strategy, architected leadership development frameworks, and facilitated culture change grounded in behavioral science, emotional intelligence, and adult learning theory.
Cory holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in LGBTQ+ Studies from Antioch University Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s in Corporate Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Certified Senior Professional in HR (SPHR) and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), and a sought-after speaker on topics including inclusive leadership, belonging, and the intersection of mental health and organizational effectiveness.
Cory resides in Los Angeles with his husband, Randy, and their dog, Luna. Outside of work, you can find him hiking, gardening, facilitating LGBTQ+ workshops for youth, or exploring California’s coast and wine country.

Laura Sherbin, PhD is Managing Director of Research, Assessment and Strategy at Seramount. She is an economist who specializes in the creation of advantage through inclusion and diversity. Most recently, Laura was co-president at the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) in New York City, a premier think tank and content provider that studies global workplace diversity.

Laura has co-authored several Harvard Business Review articles, including “How Diversity Can Drive Innovation,” “How Gen Y and Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda,” and “Off-Ramps and On-Ramps Revisited,” as well as the Harvard Business Review research report titled “The Athena Factor: Reversing the Brain Drain in Science, Engineering, and Technology.” She has also taught a Women and Globalization course at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

Laura built the rigorous data analytics machine and team that have been core to innovative approaches to measuring and tracking employee experiences. She is known as a leading expert in applying diversity and inclusion data to human behavior in organizations and using such data to quantify how workforce sentiments and satisfaction affect company bottom lines.

Laura holds a BS in math and economics from the University of Delaware and earned her PhD in economics from American University. She currently resides in Irvington, New York, with her husband, their four children, and their dog, Gus. Laura has always loved math and numbers, but when not working, she also enjoys baking, traveling, and meditating.

Chantel C. Smith is a dynamic business consultant, DEI leader, and sought-after speaker dedicated to driving business transformation through people-centered strategies. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in strategy development, talent management, and organizational effectiveness, helping companies build sustainable and inclusive workplaces.

Before transitioning to full-time consulting, Chantel served as Vice President of Global DEI and Talent Management at a leading PR firm, where she spearheaded large-scale initiatives to enhance workplace culture, improve employee engagement, and embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into business operations. Her expertise spans corporate, agency, and nonprofit sectors, where she has partnered with leaders to develop high-impact programs that drive measurable change.

Chantel’s approach blends strategic planning, data analysis, and long-term transformation to help organizations implement scalable, sustainable solutions. She has led initiatives that increased leadership diversity, improved talent mobility, and elevated both employee and client experiences. A recognized thought leader, she frequently speaks on DEI strategy, brand positioning, and business innovation.

Chantel holds a B.S. in Professional Communications and an MBA. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, embracing new experiences, and giving back to her community.

Jon Veasey-Deters is an Associate Director on the Insights team at Seramount. In his role, Jon supports Chief Diversity Officer Collaborative members with custom research on current topics such as the Science of Influence, Gen Z talent in the workplace, Generative AI’s role in the talent lifecycle, and Employee Inclusion Metrics. Prior to this role, Jon worked on the short-term K-12 research team at EAB. Jon graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with a Masters of Theological Studies and the University of Virginia with a BA in Political Science. He currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia and in his free time enjoys cooking, pursuing his sommelier certification, and traveling.

Nichelle Wash is a Director on the Advisory team at Seramount. She is a results-focused DEI leader who specializes in supporting key areas of DEI strategy. She has been the chair of DEI councils and quasi-government boards, building support for the senior leadership team to integrate DEI throughout their lines of business. This work resulted in culture and change management for employees across the enterprise that was focused on sustainability and scale. She has also overseen diversity recruitment and outreach efforts for organizations, providing real solutions to attract and retain employees with a focus on diverse hiring strategies. Nichelle is a sought-after facilitator who has delivered workshops around DEI for over a decade. She was recently recognized as Woman of the Year for her role in designing and delivering DEI education; hosting a precollege camp to increase the number of girls interested in coding and entrepreneurship; and she sourced projects to address homelessness and support pathways to housing security across her home state of Indiana.

Nichelle is an alumna of Indiana University Bloomington, where she started her career in health care and biomedical research before pivoting to a career in higher education. In her self-healing time, Nichelle enjoys listening to audiobooks, playing basketball, dancing to live music, and traveling.