Celebrating 50 Trailblazers: Diversity Champions Making Waves in Corporate America

Meet the unstoppable agents of change who are reshaping the corporate landscape. The 2012 presidential election results underscored a truth we’ve long known: in the United States, minorities and women wield significant power. Not only do we represent a substantial voting bloc, but we also hold immense purchasing power and are rapidly ascending the corporate leadership ladder.

The Vanguard of Diversity

In this feature, we honor those leading the charge: the diversity champions. These 50 executive diversity leaders have tirelessly pushed to make their companies more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. They have also taken the message of diversity and inclusion beyond their corporate walls, eagerly sharing their knowledge and experiences at conferences and other platforms.

Through their efforts, they are transforming the workplace, making it reflect the true face of the United States—diverse, motivated, and adaptable. In the following sections, meet 50 inspiring individuals who empower us, challenge us, and are working diligently to bring greater equality, dignity, and respect to their organizations.

Meet the Champions

Kimberly Admire Adams, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Opportunity Programs at Lockheed Martin, ensures that all 123,000 employees have a fair chance to succeed. She believes in tying executive performance reviews and compensation to diversity goals.
Dr. Rohini Anand, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer at Sodexo, has implemented sweeping changes, including attaching 35% of an executive’s compensation to diversity goals, leading to a 211% increase in women of color in leadership positions between 2003 and 2010.
Belinda Grant Anderson, Vice President of Workforce Development & Diversity at AT&T, has helped the telecommunications giant achieve a remarkably diverse workforce, with African Americans and Latinos comprising 31% of employees and managers.
Ken Barrett, Chief Diversity Officer at General Motors, focuses on global diversity, leveraging demographic shifts to find the talent needed to expand GM’s corporate reach.
Daina Chiu, Senior Vice President of Talent Management and Diversity at McKesson, established a Chairman’s Diversity Council and launched employee resource groups to ensure diverse candidates in the executive pipeline.
Elita Rosillo-Christiansen, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion and Talent Management at AARP, leads the implementation of diversity and cultural competence initiatives across all segments of the company’s operations.
Sheila Clark, Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Federal Reserve Board, ensures diverse candidates are hired, promoted, and considered in the negotiation of billions of dollars’ worth of contracts.
Todd Corley, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch, has quadrupled the number of store associates of color and made Hollister apparel a favorite brand among African Americans aged 8 to 15.
Lois Cooper, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion at Adecco, brings her expertise in organizational design and development to keep the company competitive.
Pamela Culpepper, Senior Vice President and Chief Global Diversity Officer at PepsiCo, draws from her experience at Quaker, Clorox, and Wells Fargo to ensure diversity permeates all parts of the $66 billion company.
Deborah Dagit, President of Deb Dagit Diversity LLC, has earned accolades for creating inclusive workplaces and has launched her own diversity training company.
Desiree Dancy, Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Corporate Human Resources at the New York Times Company, ensures the newspaper reflects the demographics and values of diversity and inclusion.
Shirley Davis, Global Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Society for Human Resource Management, brings her PhD in business and extensive experience to promote diversity and inclusion.