Farzana Nayani
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist
Company: Farzana Nayani, Consulting and TrainingRole: Session Presenter
2020 Conference Session:
Creating and Implementing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement, Policy and Plan
(S2-I)
Farzana Nayani is a recognized diversity, equity and inclusion specialist and an established intercultural practitioner. She has worked with Fortune 500 corporations, public agencies, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations for nearly 20 years as a consultant and trainer on diversity and inclusion, intercultural communication, supplier diversity and employee engagement.
Farzana’s advisory work with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), small business advocacy and entrepreneurship has taken her to engagements across North America, from the White House to Silicon Valley. Her subject matter expertise on global community relations is recognized in her work with institutions like the Smithsonian and the East-West Center. Farzana has served in national leadership positions as national director of ERG Relations for the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) and board director for the Society of Intercultural Education, Training, and Research (SIETAR) USA.
Farzana’s expertise has been featured in media outlets such as Forbes, DiversityInc, NPR, and Los Angeles Times. She is a qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory®, is an executive coach, has been adjunct faculty with the UBC Centre for Intercultural Communication for more than 10 years, and is a coach for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coaching Center with The Forum on Workplace Inclusion. She is based in Los Angeles, Calif., with a global upbringing including ties to South and Southeast Asia and Canada, and is a published author on organizational training and culture.
A frequently requested speaker on D&I, race, unconscious bias, leadership, culture and identity, Farzana is committed to helping organizations lead more effectively and is passionate about cultivating belonging in the workplace and society overall. She is a parent of two active and loving sons, and has written a book called “Raising Multiracial Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World,” distributed by Penguin Random House.