Diversity & Inclusion: Revolution or Reform

Behind the Scenes of a Solo DEI Practitioner with Carissa Begonia

• Connie & David • Season 1 • Episode 11

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Welcome to Diversity & Inclusion: Revolution or Reform?  Today’s conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at life and work as a solo DEI Practitioner with special guest Carissa Begonia. David and Carissa speak about the growing pressure on solo DEI Practitioners to do it all within their organizations as the only one. The conversation also highlights the growing need for healing specifically for POC within DEI work and organizations. A big thank you to Carissa for her time and openness to having real conversations. 


Guest Bio

Carissa is a first-generation Filipina-American daughter of immigrants. She is the founder of CONSCIOUSXCHANGE, an equity-focused leadership and business coaching and consulting company with a mission to forward the economic advancement of BIPOC, women, and folx of historically marginalized identities by helping them lead values-aligned careers or launch their own purpose-driven businesses.

 

Carissa, aka the Dream Doula, serves as a startup and small business consultant as well as executive coach, helping BIPOC entrepreneurs and leaders bring their wildest, most audacious dreams to life and design a life they are proud of. She is the former head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) of Zappos and has over 15 years of experience working on both the operations and the human side of business at some of the country’s largest retailers including Macy’s, Saks 5th Avenue, and Ross Stores. Carissa has been featured in TIME magazine and has been invited to speak at organizations including KPMG, Publicis Groupe, Kapor Capital, Pearson, and the YMCA.

 

As a serial entrepreneur, Carissa is also the co-founder of Green Mango International, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization supporting educational opportunities for underserved school children in the Philippines, as well as the co-founder of AARISE - Asian American Racialized Identity and Social Empowerment for AAPIs, a program and community focused on justice and liberation for all centering Asian American activist history, AAPI experiences, emotional processing and somatic healing.


Connect with Carissa


REMINDER!

Join us on Thursday, January 272022 at 4pm PST/7pm EST for a LIVE conversation + audience Q&A on Dismantling White Supremacy Culture in organizations and society with poet, artist, & writer Dr. Tema Okun. Tickets are available HERE.


Learn more about our work:

Email: revolutionorreform@gmail.com

Connie’s Instagram: @and.now.collective
Connie’s Work: and-now-collective.com

David’s Instagram: @amplify.rj
David’s Work: amplifyrj.com


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Click here to access the transcript of today’s episode.