Modern Talent Leadership: Inclusion, Retention, Engagement

Su Joun (she/her/hers) is the Principal of Diversity@WorkplaceConsulting Group LLC  (http://www.diversityatworkplace.com) that specializes in innovative, implementation-focused,no-frills Diversity & Inclusion training and consultation.  Su is alsoan adjunct professor at Suffolk University where she teaches Global HumanResources Management, Organizational Behavior and Career LAUNCH classes.

She was the Vice President of Talent, Diversityand Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) where she ledthe enterprise diversity and inclusion, talent acquisition, performance managementand leadership development, and associate engagement teams.  In addition to expertise in Diversity &Inclusion and talent management, she has held leadership roles in IT & operations,marketing, sales and call centers in various organizations and industries. Su hasalso founded and operated a publishing company. This breadth of experiencesenables her to fully understand and “speak the language” of the variousbusiness areas and leaders allowing for true partnership to champion Diversity& Inclusion goals and programs.

Su received her MBA from Suffolk University andher MS in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University.

Her thought-leadership on Diversity &Inclusion and talent overall has been showcased in the Skillsoft video libraryand on the Urban Update.  She has presented to various audiences suchas the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, NAAAP, CFO Roundtable, UMASS Centerfor Collaborative Leadership, NEHRA, HUBweek, General Assembly, Skillsoft Conference,Design Museum Boston Workplace Innovation Summit, Northeastern University Open Classroomand the Boston Bar Association. 

Gwendolyn McCoy (she/her/her) is a Lead Consultant at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group. She stands at the forefront of entrepreneurship and diversity and inclusion. She is an HR professional and diversity and inclusion practitioner with expertise in strategy, compliance, program and event design/management, training and development, and branding and communications. 

Gwendolyn joined John Hancock/Manulife as the US Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2020. During her tenure she built a multiyear strategy with an emphasis on people, culture, business and community. She collaborated across the enterprise to increase representation of different dimensions of diversity, worked with employee resource groups focused on belonging and infusing DEI principles in the company’s business and community initiatives. 

Prior to that, Gwendolyn partnered with domestic and international firms as a Senior Consultant with Diversity@Workplace, a consultancy focused on learning solutions, strategy, and process redesign to improve talent acquisition, retention, and engagement. 

Before joining D@W, Gwendolyn built and managed enterprise-wide programs at Massachusetts’ largest health insurance carrier. Her signature program, Women@Blue, focused on career development and girl empowerment and has been recognized, along with other D&I programs, as Boston Business Journal’s Best Diversity Initiatives in 2014. 

Gwendolyn sits on panels, delivers learning solutions and facilitates conversations for organizations looking to advance DEI in their firms. She also harnesses passion, expertise, and resources in the community as a member of the Board of The Greater Boston YMCA, the Cornerstone Collaborative, and Encuentro Diaspora Afro (EDA), a non-profit that empowers the Afro-Latino community with an emphasis on middle and high school students. Gwendolyn received the 2015 President’s Award from the Boston Branch of the NAACP for chairing the Branch’s Centennial Celebration. 

Gwendolyn is the Founder and Principal of MS Creative Group. Floral design, event design, small business development, and communications are some of the many services offered. Make Scents Floral Design was featured in the United States Postal Service ad campaign Small Business Solutions. 

Gwendolyn holds an MBA from Bentley with concentrations in marketing and entrepreneurship. She holds a graduate certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and a designation as a Certified Diversity and Inclusion practitioner through the National Diversity Council. She is a graduate of the Fellows Program of The Partnership Inc.

Zainub R. Ruane (she/her/hers) is a Lead Consultant with Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group which works with organizations to diversify their workforce and create inclusive, equitable work environments through consultation and training.

Zainub has worked with and for global organizations such as Boston Scientific, Olympus America, and Chubb Corporation. The majority of her experience is in the medical device industry where she marketed surgical devices and systems. Zainub has played an active part in supporting the team and organizational culture throughout all of her roles.

Zainub has facilitated and taught classes in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, MAAPS, and Skillshare. She received her Master’s in Business Administration from Babson College and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology from Rutgers University. Most recently, Zainub completed a certificate in DEI communications from the Public Relations Society of America.