Pride Inside and Out: What It Takes to be an Inclusive and Equitable Workplace
Join Tyler Blackburn and Kika Chatterjee for an insightful session outlining best practices and tangible takeaways that workplaces and employers can leverage to create inclusive year-round inclusive work environments for LGBTQ+ staff, not just during Pride Month. From external campaigns, to internal policies, these thought leaders will share what it truly means for companies to be equitable.
Tyler Blackburn (He/Him)
Tyler Blackburn is a senior associate director at APCO and is based in APCO's Chicago office. He is a member of the firm's corporate communications and equity and justice practice and is an award-winning DEI subject matter expert.
Tyler is a corporate communications leader and DEI expert with a Master of Communications from Loyola University Chicago and over a decade of experience crafting compelling content, plans and communications strategies that empower people to influence systemic change. He has led projects and workstreams for private companies that resulted in 78% positive change in internal stakeholders� perception of DEI initiatives. His clients have included Prudential, Southwest Airlines, Pretium Partners, and VERITY Now, a coalition dedicated to removing gender bias from vehicle safety policies and practices.
Tyler has also served as co-chair for APCO’s Black African Ancestry Movement employee resource group (ERG) and is a member of the firm’s PROUD@APCO ERG. Prior to APCO, Tyler worked in and around the Chicago public school system leading family and community communications and strategic planning.
Kika Chatterjee (She/Her)
Kika Chatterjee is an associate director at APCO Worldwide in California where she specializes in nonprofit program management and digital implementation. Ms. Chatterjee brings knowledge in gender issues and the music industry to her clients, with a focus on the nexus of entertainment industry advocacy and modern issues of social justice. She informs her strategy development and implementation with a background in digital marketing.
Previously, Ms. Chatterjee managed marketing for Equal Vision Records, an independent record label based in Albany, as well as developed editorial for music magazine Alternative Press in Cleveland.
Ms. Chatterjee holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies from Wheaton College Massachusetts.
Working Remote While Trans
Andrea Breanna (She/Her)
Andrea Breanna is the founder and CEO of RebelMouse. RebelMouse is a creative agency and CMS platform for enterprise brands and media companies. The platform reaches 160 million people monthly. Before launching RebelMouse, Andrea was CTO of The Huffington Post. Andrea is also on the Consumer Advisory Board for American Express, and is an advisor to Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Andrea is proudly and openly transgender. She lives with her wife and 4 kids in Brooklyn NY.
You can find her on Twitter .
A June 2022 report from the BBC found that many employees who transitioned during the pandemic are now facing both the social pressures of being back around colleagues and a lack of trans-inclusive policies. In fact, of the trans professionals who completed PowerToFly’s What Diverse Talent Wants survey, zero responders felt like they have job security in the workplace. What are the perks and drawbacks of working remotely for trans professionals? We are excited to be joined by trans leader Andrea Breanna, CEO and founder of RebelMouse to dive in further into this important topic.
Queering the C-Suite: A Conversation with PowerToFly Co-Founder & CEO Milena Berry
Milena Berry
Milena is the Co-Founder and CEO of PowerToFly - the fastest growing global platform dedicated to fast-tracking economic equity by upskilling and connecting underrepresented talent to roles in highly visible sectors. Milena’s on a mission to partner with top 100 brands to bring them a slew of diversity solutions provided through the PowerToFly platform.
Milena was born in Bulgaria and moved to New York City a week before September 11th to pursue a Masters at ITP NYU. Prior to co-founding PowerToFly, Milena has contributed to numerous startups, and had a blast being the CTO of Avaaz.org where she oversaw the technology to support growth to over 30 million members.
Milena is a frequent commentator on how companies can diversify their teams, especially in tech. Her work for PowerToFly has been recognized in Business Insider and she was named Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2015. Her biggest accomplishments are her four children who constantly push her to rethink what work-life balance means.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, only about 2% of C-Suite executives identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. If meaningful change begins at the top, how can we uplift more LGBTQIA+ in their careers and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to create their own inclusive businesses. We are proud to sit down with PowerToFly’s own CEO & Co-Founder Milena Berry, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, to talk about her journey and how we can impact true change in the boardroom and beyond.
RECORDING: The Impact of Coaching Programs on the Careers of Neurodiverse Professionals
For a neurodiverse professional finding their footing in the workplace and in life, a little help can go a long way. Sometimes, that help comes in the form of coaching. In this talk, Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Life Guides for Autistics (LGFA) / NeuroGuides, J David Hall, explains the benefits of coaching programs for neurodiverse individuals, and for organizations that want to be a safe haven for their neurodiverse employees.
J. David Hall (He/Him)
J. David Hall (he/him) s the founder and CEO of the Foundation for Life Guides for Autistics (LGFA) / NeuroGuides, a U.S.-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 2017. His organization provides business coaching and consultations to companies and organizations on neurodiversity, inclusivity, and life coaching for autistic people and other neurodivergent persons worldwide. He’s a Dad to three persons diagnosed on the autism spectrum (ASD) and was formally diagnosed as an autistic person in 2018.
His team of Neuroguides (life and job coaches) works closely with autistic and other neurodivergent individuals in helping them to succeed socially, occupationally, and relationally. David is passionately focused on guiding people to discover their strengths and enjoy meaningful lives.
Known as a relentless optimist and encourager, David is a celebrated writer who speaks at various national events and is a sought-after DEI and neurodiversity trainer and consultant for corporations.
David lives in the South Puget Sound of Washington state, where he writes, reads, cares for birds, hunts mushrooms, and rides his mountain bike.
Recent and upcoming appearances include:
Recent events and upcoming appearances include Leadership training for several Fortune 500 companies, Different Brains, Spectrum Lights Inclusion Summit, Southwest Washington Autism Conference, Bellingham SHRM, Microsoft, Seattle Aspiring Youth/Delphi Programs/Ryther, Stanford University Neurodiversity Summit, The Elijah Winfrey Show, a featured writer on Neuroclastic.com, North Carolina University, Neuroguides Parent Webinars and Podcast interviews, a founding member of the Diversity with Dignity Global Roundtable, corporate leadership training and coaching services with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and government agencies in neurodiversity and building true inclusive workplace cultures.
Gallup Strengths Attributes: Input, Maximizer, Connectedness, Empathy, and Developer.
Gabby Fricke
An experienced project coordinator and manager with specialties in content and leadership development through various training and workshop settings. Skilled in developing tools and analytics for new system implementation. Knowledgeable on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles including cultural competency, allyship, unconscious bias, intercultural communication, and employee relations. My passions are greatly found in social and racial justice, equity, empowerment, and advocacy.