Beyond DE&I: The Building Blocks of Belonging

Tissa Hami is the Founder and Principal of Korsi Consulting. A former investment banker turned stand-up comic turned DEI consultant, Tissa works with clients across industries on their DEI strategies and goals. Her clients have included Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, non-profits, and universities. Her mission is to build inclusive workplaces where all employees belong and can thrive.

Tissa will co-facilitate Daring Allyship: An Interactive Comedy & Storytelling Experience

Jeanette Iglesias serves as the President of JI Coaching and Consulting, LLC, a distinguished firm specializing in executive coaching, leadership development, and DIB (Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging). Her practice focuses on nurturing social and emotional intelligence, fostering inclusion, and promoting a sense of belonging in diverse settings.

With a diverse background encompassing roles as a consultant, facilitator, corporate executive, coach, and entrepreneur, Jeanette brings a wealth of experience to her work. Her clientele spans various global industries such as finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, marketing, energy, and non-profit sectors. Holding a certification as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation, Jeanette is dedicated to assisting leaders in creating inclusive environments that prioritize the sense of belonging for all.  Jeanette is also a certified coach assessor and mentor who guides aspiring coaches to certification.

Her multifaceted approach to coaching not only aids individuals in navigating leadership challenges but also empowers them to leverage their innate abilities, adapt their leadership styles for enhanced organizational effectiveness, foster inclusivity, and drive employee engagement.

Beyond her professional achievements, Jeanette is actively involved in her community and family life. Since 2016, she has directed the New Jersey Governor's Hispanic Fellows HISPA Leadership Workshop Series Program, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing future leaders. Additionally, Jeanette serves as a Trustee at the Princeton Friends School and contributes as a member of the Princeton Mercer Chamber of Commerce Diversity Committee.

Lucia Page is a DEI&B leader recognized for her passion and ability for cultivating work cultures of inclusion and belonging. She is the President of the American Family Insurance Enterprise's Women's Business Resource Group whose mission is to educate, empower and advocate for the advancement of women. As President, Lucia leads the WBRG's strategic alignment to the Enterprise's Inclusive Excellence goals and oversees the execution of WBRG event and program offerings, membership and communications experience, and partnerships. She served as a member of American Family Insurance's National BRG Strategic Planning Team, responsible for aligning the Enterprise's Operating Company BRGs under its new, National BRG structure.

Lucia has over 6 years’ experience leading Employee Resource Groups and over 25 years of experience spanning digital advertising, marketing and communications, and digital transformation. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from University of Iowa, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certifications from Cornell University and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and is a Level 3 - Certified Expert ERG Leader from ERG Leadership Alliance. She is also a Certified SAFe® 5 Program Consultant, Lean Portfolio Manager and SAFe Agilest.

Lucia identifies as a cis-gendered, Asian, Hispanic/LatinX (pronouns: she/her/hers), Christian woman and a proud member of the LGBTQiA+ community. She has served as a commissioner on the Iowa City Housing & Community Development and Human Rights Commissions and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Strong Women Strong Girls, a Boston-based, multi-generational mentoring program serving women and girls. She currently lives in Medford, MA, with her wife, Robin, their three sons, ages 16, 7 and 4, and their 2 year old puppy. She loves traveling, reading, and taking in new experiences.

For over 30 years, Robert Principe’s leadership has been focused on supporting organizations to address the challenges of defining and implementing effective diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy. His experience covers the full scope of DEI work including assessment of organizational culture, strategic planning and implementation, leadership coaching, support for underrepresented populations in the workplace, and the research, design and delivery of all DEI training and programming.

As a D&I consultant and coach he has worked with a broad range of companies and organization across multiple sectors including Aflac, Alzheimer’s Association, American Airlines, American Institutes for Research, Amherst Regional Public Schools, Assured Partners Insurance, Big Sister Boston, Carbonite, Inc., Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, EMC Corporation, Farm & Wilderness Foundation, Ferris State University, Flint Michigan Community School Board, Hack.Diversity, Homesite Insurance, Lowell Community Public Charter School, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood League of MA, Providence College, Rivier University, University of Denver, University of Missouri, and Xerox Corporation.

Robert’s innovative coaching model, Clearing the Way for Value-Based Decision-Making has helped many leaders move beyond professional and organizational challenges and recognize the unconscious biases that can negatively influence their decision making. 

In his upcoming book, Excuse Me While I Skip a Beat: Working to Reinvent My Life and Leadership as a White Guy, Robert shares what he has learned about the intricacies of effective DEI leadership. He also delineates what the distinctive work is for him as a white, cisgender, heterosexual male to become what he calls a “Relentless Equity Solution Seeker.”

Robert most recently held the position of Senior Manager for Diversity, Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court from June 2019 - July 2021.

Amy Tee offers a rare blend of wit and honesty, a winning combination that's made her a popular comedian on the national comedy touring circuit. Amy share her experiences with alcoholism, bi-polar disorder, and the road to recovery as she delivers comedy with stigma-busting honesty. She happily uses her comedic act to serve as a mental wellness advocate as an approved IOOV (In Our Own Voice) Presenter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She is a regular performer at the Boston Comedy Festival and has been featured on Sirius XM and the LOGO television network. 

For several years, Amy has been a major player in the NE comedy scene, with a successful career as a comedian, event planner, and fundraising guru. She toured nationally and appeared in the film Laughing Matters - The Next Generation as a featured comedian. All of this success, however, was masking a serious battle with alcoholism and mental illness.

The mask shattered one day, and the proverbial "rock bottom" was reached on a grand scale. She is now eleven years sober after a lot of hard work and self-discovery. She is also thriving and happier than ever because she received a proper diagnosis and treatment for bipolar disorder! This newfound health has inspired her to devote her life to the path of wellness, assisting anyone she can along the way. Amy Tee is overjoyed to be back, and to give back.