Florence I.
Keynote Speaker
CEO & CTS
Bavarde Consulting & Management, LLC
Florence Idowu is the Chief Talent Strategist and CEO of Bavarde Consulting and Management. She serves as an In-house and External Human Resources and Talent Acquisition Business Partner with Small and Medium-sized organizations, bringing experience and expertise in Recruitment & Staffing, Organization Design & Development, HR Transformation, Team Alignment, People Analytics, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dereck A. (Ph.D.)
TA, Training & DEI Manager - Element Electronics
Dereck is a strategic HR Leader with experience in education, retail operation, healthcare, and manufacturing. He has a track record in research and policy analysis, developing positive work teams, implementing technology-driven change initiatives, improving employee engagement, and establishing a positive work culture.
Ann B. (ACIPM, HRPL)
Principal Consultant & Ceo -Ciink Agile Resources and Head of HR & Admin - Yiaga Africa
Ann Bassey has over 14 years of experience leading HR functions in private and non-profit organizations. She is a strategic Principal Consultant with senior management in organizations providing innovative solutions to complex issues, and leading key HR initiatives; a change management agent with the distinct ability to motivate people following cutting-edge HR trends.
Her expertise includes HR Strategy, Talent Acquisition, Change Management, Employee Motivation & Engagement, Client Relationships, Process Improvement, and Senior Leadership Advisory.
Andrea L.
CEO & Career Coach
The Clear Island
Andrea Logan is a Professional Resume Writer and Career Coach that specializes in 100% remote work transitions for job seekers of marginalized backgrounds.
She has worked in the Human Resources industry as a Recruiter, Employee Trainer, and HR Manager and now owns The Career Island as an Influencer.
She uses her social media platforms to post free tips that show job seekers all over the world how to get the attention of Decision Makers and stay hired in the Virtual Age.
Kobena-Marcus C.
Principal DEI Consultant
Traveler Consulting LLC
Kobena-Marcus J. Collins is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging professional holding several certifications in DEI, Marketing, and Leadership, two degrees, and a lifetime of experience. Kobena has been an advocate for DEIB professionally since 2008, working diligently to help create environments where everyone can have a place of psychological safety and feel supported to achieve their highest potential.
Jaiyeola D.
Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer
Errand360ng & Worka Consulting
Deji is Cofounder and Chief Innovation Officer at Errand360, he is also the Founder of Worka Consulting Services, and he has over a decade of experience in Recruitment, Marketing, and Business Operations.
He is a versatile manager, a project manager, and a good orator, implementing several projects spanning up to a decade. He is the Author of Dear Applicants and CV for Dummies.
Dr. Jonathan F.
Founder & CEO Logicle Analytics
Dr. Fowler has been in the data/analytics field since 2007. His background in the humanities gives him a unique perspective on data analytics as a narrative, and his experience in education as a teacher and counselor helps bring a nurturing mindset to the business.
He has served as sole or lead analytics developer in the fields of consumer product goods, manufacturing, banking, law, human resources, and IT managed services. He has worked in both the team lead and individual contributor roles in data engineering, data integration, predictive analytics, and data visualization. He has acted as an outsourced Chief Data Officer for implementing company data strategies.
Always an educator, Dr. Fowler has taught at the graduate level for analytics and data science and has published multiple papers in the field. The training modules delivered in this platform are informed by Dr. Fowler’s original curricula for courses taught through Northeastern University, Brandeis University, USC Upstate, Wofford College, Texas A&M, and analytics boot camps.
Dr. Fowler holds a D.C.Sc. in Big Data Analytics from Colorado Technical University, M.Ed., and B.A. in English from Clemson University. His doctoral research was the early core of the LDIS+™ Analytics Impact Framework.
Lateefat O.
Mental Health Expert & Founder - One Young African
Lateefat Odunuga is an author, a charismatic young leader, and a voice for young people thereby speaking up for marginalized voices during high-level meetings.
Lateefat is a Certified Suicidologist and Public and Community Psychologist that specializes in mental health services, crisis intervention services, and psychoeducation. She provides direct services to people especially those who have been affected by violence, displacement, or other emergencies, and has diverse experience working with them.
She is the Founder of One Young African, USA, an Afrocentric-based consultancy service working and collaborating with various youth-based organizations.
Lateefat believes in equity, justice, and inclusion and strongly advocates for the rights of young people.
Lateefat has published over 30 articles, reports, and books on youth development, public health, and mental health which has made a huge impact on the lives of thousands of young people in Nigeria as well as the United States.
Tess N.
Founder & Executive Career Coach Kat Konsult
Tess Nyman is a Founder and Director of Kat Konsult, a supporting solutions company that provides Career Coaching and Consultancy, Human Resource Management Consultancy, and Soft Skills Training. Kat Konsult has helped more than 6000 individuals to get hired faster and over 900 to get promoted in less than 90 days since 2020 when it was officially launched. www.katkonsult.com
Tess Nyman is also a Founder of Neostasi an e-commerce store for natural, organic, and herbal skin and body care products with a main cause of educating orphans in Uganda. www.neostasi.com
Nashika K.
Diversity and Inclusion Project Coordinator/Recruiter - Cisco
Nashika (pronounced Nu-She- Ka) has over 20 years of success managing and training teams, creating executive search strategies, and executing talent acquisition plans. She is an organized and strategic leader having a proven track record of working with small organizations as well as Fortune 500 companies to develop creative recruiting initiatives. She has worked in various industries retail management, administrative mortgage/healthcare services, and staffing/recruiting for an array of companies.
She is currently a Project Specialist at Cisco Systems. With her 10-plus years in staffing/recruitment services, her drive and expertise have allowed her to execute successful recruitment strategies. She is proven to develop valuable relationships with external customers and stakeholders. By focusing on her “Everyone Deserves to Feel Seen and Heard” motto, Nashika has garnered recognition from her managers, coworkers, and candidates for just being her. She can ease candidates’ nervousness while encouraging and empowering everyone she speaks with giving each candidate the Nashika Experience. Nashika may spend her days working remotely for Cisco but it’s her love for helping people that she’s passionate about. The eagerness to make sure she can play a part in the journey of advancing someone’s career is what gets her up in the morning.
Leah C.
Technical Recruiter
Amazon Prime Video
Leah Cohen (she/her) is a California-based professional recruiter, speaker, and content creator with a passion for creating positive change in the workplace. Prior to her corporate career, Leah pursued professional theatre, which honed her ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
With experience across a range of industries, including tech, biotech, automotive, and more, Leah advocates for transparency in recruiting and shares her expertise to empower job seekers on LinkedIn with practical guidance and strategies. Additionally, she is an advocate for mental health in the workplace, working to destigmatize mental health issues and promote well-being among employees.
Leah is a sought-after speaker, sharing her insights at events and conferences across the country, and is committed to ethical and equitable hiring practices, helping job seekers find the right opportunities to achieve their professional goals.
Cassie M.
IT Recruitment Consultant & CEO - RAAISE Staffing Solutions
Cassandra (Cassie) McGlothin is an IT Recruitment Consultant with 7 years of Human Resources administration and team management experience. She has had the honor of working for many pioneering companies and acquired a clear perspective on the need for advocacy for job seekers of color and ways to match them with the right job opportunities.
Cassie has worked with clients to orient their recruiting strategies to benefit from a more diverse pool of potential employees. She has successfully placed Identity and Privileged Access Management (IAM/PAM) and TS/SCI cleared professionals.
In December 2020, she founded RAAISE Staffing Solutions, LLC to provide connections and communication between hiring companies looking for the best IT talent
Emi Lea K.
CEO & Consultant
Defiant Changemakers Consulting
Emi Lea Kamemoto is a Human Resources & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant, Inclusive Business Strategist, and Learning & Development professional with 8+ years of experience leading & facilitating Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and People change management projects.
As founder of Defiant Changemakers Consulting, she has served as an HR & DEI subject matter expert for clients across Entertainment, Engineering, Tech, Publishing, CPG, Non-Profit, and Social Justice Organizations in order to foster thriving & inclusive company cultures that embed access to opportunities for people of all identities.
Emi combines her deep understanding of Human Resources Processes, Partnerships Development, Project & Change Management, & ability to influence stakeholders with her passion for building structures that create paths for representation in all industries at all levels.
At Defiant Changemakers Consulting, we advise organizations and coach leaders on their equitable and inclusive strategy to create sustainable and measurable social change for their team members, clients, customers, and community.
Williams A.
Brand Strategist & Coach - Bavarde Consulting & Management
Williams Abisola is a Freelance and a Start-up Branding Coach. Her journey started at the University of Abuja in 2019 when she discovered that a lot of talented students on campus are using Media and Tech Tools for the wrong reasons.
She is passionate about creating a community of young people that are interested in building their brands, birthing their ideas, and turning passion into profit by leveraging Media and Technology.
She has since then built an active community of almost 300 Entrepreneurs and trained over 1,500 young people through her free conferences and Masterclasses.
Abisola is a Personal Brand Strategist, Content marketer, and LinkedIn Branding Tutor. Her great networking and communication skills have helped her to set trends and proffer solutions to startups and SMEs in her immediate community and Nigeria at large.
Abisola has been honored by the Center of Entrepreneurship and Development Center, University of Abuja. She was also nominated at the Nigerians 25under25 Founders in 2022. She currently serves as a Brand Strategist with CEOs across different countries.
Mardarius T.
Senior Career Consultant & Professional Resume Writer
M3: The Corporate Coach, LLC
Mardarius (Mardy) Thomas leads and directs career management and DEI strategic initiatives in Higher Education and Corporate America. Additionally, he is the Executive Director, Professional Resume Writer, and Career Coach for M3: The Corporate Coach, LLC, whose mission is to decrease the socioeconomic gap within the Black community. He works with entry- to C-Suite level job seekers to help them "Level Up" in their careers and increase their salaries by an average of $47,000 annually.
Mardarius has been featured in LinkedIn Stories, VoyageATL, VoyageLA, and VoyageMemphis. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia of America, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and NACADA.
Malcolm B.
Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Recruitment Manager
Mazda
Malcolm Bates is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Recruitment Manager at Mazda, North America Operations. He has 13 years of experience in Global DEI. He is also the Founder of The Diversity Leadership Insititute at Missouri State University and the Founder and CEO of All About Diversity LLC.
He is a highly motivated, personable professional with an exemplary reputation based on professionalism, honesty, thoroughness, and dedication. He is self-motivated and goal-oriented with proven initiative and vision, demonstrating expertise in developing and implementing action plans, achieving established goals, providing inspirational leadership, and skillfully managing key logistics.
Uchechi N.
Linkedin & Social Media Consultant
Uchechi Nwangwu is a Branding Strategist and a Social Media Consultant.
She specializes in information gathering and analyzing accounts of her client's social media platforms(Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) to optimize and give recommendations to better handle their social pages. All these, she does with top-shelf proven strategies, keeping her clients updated with new trends.
Shaun S.
Chief Connector / Lead Consultant & Founder
Crazy Cup Frozen Yogurt
​Shaun Scott is a former National Champion Gymnast, and Professional MMA athlete who has competed on Guinness World Records, and American Ninja Warrior. He owns Crazy Cup Frozen Yogurt in St.Louis, and is engaged in a diverse array of St.Louis focused organizations including the St.Louis IT Roundtable, Sokol St. Louis, and Scott Health & Fitness. Shaun works as a consultant in the IT space & is the Partnerships Director at Blue Equinox, a national IT Advisor & Managed Services Alliance Network. With a background in staffing, Shaun is heavily focused on impact awareness, and DIEB initiatives in the tech community.
Roy O.
Talent & People Strategist - Bavarde Consulting & Management
Roy Osaka is a People and Talent Specialist based in Nairobi, Kenya. His areas of focus are Talent Acquisition, Technical Recruiting, Career Coaching, Organization Culture, and Learning and Development.
As a People and Talent Specialist He has worked for Gates Education Group, Sheer Logic Management Consultants, Workforce Africa, Cloud Productivity Solutions, and Bavarde Consulting and Management.
Ola I.
Career Coach & Resume Writer - Bavarde Consulting & Management
Olalekan Ibrahim is a Prolific Resume and Cover Letter Writer. He takes pride in adding to people's career success stories by elucidating their strengths, value prepositions, and achievements in the best possible manner to resonate with decision-makers in organizations, thus giving professionals the desired results. Besides his proficiently honed competence, he is a LinkedIn Strategist.
Hiqmat Dee B.
Career Coach - Workshop Facilitator
Hiqmat Bello (Dee) is a career coach grad intern working on an MA in counseling psychology. She enjoys using her counseling skills to help clients feel heard when they come in for career counseling appointments.
Using a person-centered approach, she helps individuals identify their career goals and empowers them on how to achieve those goals. Understanding that each individual is unique in their needs, she treats the client with respect and considers them a whole entity.
She currently lives in Minnesota, where she enjoys doing Zumba classes.
Adeola A.
Q & A Facilitator
Bavarde Consulting & Management
Adeola Adeleye is a resourceful and goal-oriented HR enthusiast who has the privilege of working closely with HR professionals specialized in Career Development, Learning and Development and Employee Relations.
She is keen on acquiring HR skills and overtime, developing them hands on.