This session brings together an HR practitioner and an LGBTQ+ professional to examine the same problem from two angles, what the framework says and what it actually feels like to navigate. Workers will leave with practical documentation and escalation guidance, and an honest account of what it means to weigh risk and visibility as a queer person inside large institutions right now.
Speakers
Bie Aweh
Bie Aweh is a talent developer focused on equity and inclusion strategy. With nearly a decade of experience in coaching adult learners, building sustainable partnerships, designing and facilitating training, and driving social change by providing career pathways for underrepresented and underserved communities. Bie’s work has been highlighted in various platforms such as Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and WiredUk. Her passion for connecting underrepresented populations to the innovation economy fuels the work she does today at DoorDash as the Senior People Growth Manager for Women/Non-binary and underrepresented talent development. In this capacity, she delivers high-impact learning experiences for women and non-binary people of all backgrounds and underrepresented people of color, while also exploring different levers to ensure these groups can actualize their full potential.
Marshall Heck
I am an openly gay and black healthcare operations leader with more than a decade of experience across leading academic medical centers including Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Penn Medicine, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Currently serving in Obstetrics & Gynecology administration, I have led initiatives focused on workforce culture, employee engagement, patient experience, and inclusive leadership within complex healthcare environments. Recognized for his advocacy surrounding DEI, psychological safety, and equitable workplace practices, he brings a practical leadership perspective to conversations on retaliation, accountability, labor relations, and creating cultures where employees feel heard and supported.