Is your company continuing the work and self-reflection that so many of us were called to in the wake of the social unrest after the George Floyd murder? Are the pull of business as usual and the urgency of running and growing your business making it hard to follow up on the early efforts and promises of the last two years? 

In this session, we will explore actionable steps organizations and their leaders can take to address specific and critical issues internally to pave the path toward a more inclusive and actively anti-racist business culture. Cultural norms that many white people see as normal or "business as usual" reinforce systems of injustice in our society. We will discuss our understanding of these characteristics of a white-dominant culture and examine the unseen patterns, systems, and behaviors that show up both at work and in our personal lives. We will explore both the theoretical perspective and the changes that can come from taking action to shift ourselves and our organizational cultures.

Since the end of the last century, Lynn has worked at the intersection of social impact, entrepreneurship, and arts + media. She has founded and successfully led several social ventures dedicated to storytelling through the lens of gender and racial justice; including Spotlight: Girls and Oakland Freedom Theater— a first-of-its kind ensemble of actors, musicians and expert facilitators utilizing art and empathy to dismantle systems of oppression.

Lynn is a highly sought-after speaker and leader in the certified B Corp community and has appeared on the stages of SOCAP, Social Venture Circle, SVI Women, Lean StartUp Week, and Wisdom 2.0. Her work has been recognized and supported by SheEO, the Force for Good Fund, and Ashoka Changemakers. Lynn was the 2017 winner of The Pitch competition presented by SheKnows Media at the BlogHer conference in Orlando, FL.

As Founder and CEO of Hella Social Impact, Lynn is focused on helping businesses show up for racial justice authentically and impactfully. She believes her main job is to help today’s leaders access the courage and imagination needed to reshape our economy for the good of all people.

Based in Oakland, CA since 2006, Lynn and her wife currently reside in Albuquerque, NM where their tween, neurodivergent daughter is receiving residential care. When not working, Lynn enjoys living room karaoke, mixing up new cocktail recipes, and walking along the Rio Grande.

Herna (pronounced “Er-Na”) Cruz-Louie is the Chief Organization & People Officer at the Girl Scouts of Northern California and oversees Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness, Marketing & Communications, Member Success & Retail, and leads the organization’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) strategy and initiatives. She is also the volunteer Director of the American Center of Philippine Arts in Oakland. Herna has 15+ years of experience working as a nonprofit administrator, community organizer, and youth development practitioner as well as 10+ years of HR Management. She earned her BA in Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and completed her MS in HR Management from Golden Gate University. She is a certified community mediator as well as holds a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. Herna was awarded one of Filipina Women’s Network’s 100 most influential Filipinas in 2011, and currently serves as the Board of Directors Chair at World Arts West (the presenter of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival) and Board Secretary of Kulintang Arts, Inc. (the premiere presenter of tribal and contemporary Pilipino arts). Herna is a Girl Scout troop co-leader and proudly raising her 2 daughters with her spouse in Oakland, CA.

Angela Akinyemi shares leadership of diversity, equity, and belonging initiatives at Akimbo, an organization dedicated to building a world where learning is a human right. At Akimbo, Angela takes an intentional and collaborative approach to the company’s long-term commitment to dismantling systems of oppression. This includes working with leadership and culture-shapers within the organization to ensure that the company’s operations are aligned with our values and goals. In addition to her organizational work, Angela supports healing and empowerment for people with historically marginalized identities in her role as a therapist. Her work across domains highlights the importance of the systems and structures that shape us and utilizes the power of interpersonal engagement as a force for change. Angela’s work also draws on her experiences in the finance industry and in the nonprofit world as one of few employees of color. Angela is queer, Black-biracial, and first-generation American. She is a practitioner of yoga, an avid traveler, and a believer in joy as liberation.

As Director of Strategy, Justin oversees the strategic direction for projects in content marketing, SEO, digital advertising, social media, event marketing, email, and public relations. Clients past and present include the Eastern Band of The Cherokee Indians, Hyland’s Homeopathic, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Conscious Company Media, and the Social Capital Markets conference.

Justin brings a strong technical background to the team. He earned a degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He continues to study developments and trends in digital marketing and adapts swiftly to change in technology and the industry. Justin is also the co-founder and a lead instructor for the JB Media Institute, our comprehensive Internet marketing training program. He is committed to sharing his knowledge and helping organizations make informed decisions on their online marketing campaigns.

Justin was honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and was inducted into Asheville’s 40 Under Forty in 2012. He is a 2016 graduate of the Hive Global Leaders program and a 2017 graduate of the StartingBloc Institute social entrepreneurship fellowship.

He loves the Asheville area and is happy to give back through his work as an alumni volunteer with Leadership Asheville and Leadership North Carolina, and as a board member with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Veterans Healing Farm. He is a former board member of NC Stage Company. Beyond all things internet marketing, Justin enjoys exploring nature, playing sports, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends.