--- title: "Advocating DEI For All: The Underrepresented and The Represented" description: Cecilia Ogude is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at IRI. image: https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/Cecilia%20Ogude%20rec.png --- [![Website Logo - White-1](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Uplifting%20Impact/Website%20Logo%20-%20White-1.png?width=1827&name=Website%20Logo%20-%20White-1.png "Website Logo - White-1")](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/) ![HEADER - Podcast 2](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/Uplifting%20Impact/Headers-Backgrounds%20-%20UI/HEADER%20-%20Podcast%202.jpg "HEADER - Podcast 2") # Advocating DEI For All: The Underrepresented and The Represented Posted by [Deanna Singh](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/author/deanna-singh) | Jan 6, 2022 3:00:00 AM ![](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/Cecilia%20Ogude%20rec.png) Cecilia Ogude is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at IRI. In this role, Cecilia works with leadership to facilitate the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of IRI’s DEI strategy, initiatives, programs, tools, and resources. She previously held roles at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and McKinsey & Co. where she worked to drive intersectional and inclusive experiences for employees and senior leaders. Cecilia currently lives in New York and is an active volunteer with several organizations there. In order to have an engaged team, some key components that must be in place include a sense of belonging and connection. And in these times of working from home and distancing from each other, it can be more important than ever to intentionally seek out and create connections with colleagues. In this conversation, Deanna an Cecilia discuss some of the impactful ways colleagues have reached out to them, and some of the ways in which they share and create intersectional relationships within the workplace. They also discuss staying committed to DEI every day, and how those in leadership roles can create space for growth. To connect with Cecilia, find her on LinkedIn at: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliaogude](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliaogude) ## Topics In This Conversation - Finding the silver linings of social distancing - DEI doesn’t only mean making huge changes - The value of sharing things about yourself that you can’t find on a LinkedIn page - The relationship between representation and talent, skill, and knowledge - Examining fundamental gaps within an organization - Addressing a red flag for senior leadership that Deanna has seen across many organizations - What it means to be an advocate for all ### Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed - [Dr. Johné Battle: Measuring Success In DEI](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting_impact/measuring-success-in-dei) - [Guillermo Gutierrez: Creating An Atmosphere Where DEI Can Thrive](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting_impact/creating-an-atmosphere-where-dei-can-thrive) #### Written by [Deanna Singh](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/author/deanna-singh) Deanna Singh is a business consultant, speaker, and podcaster who is internationally recognized for her work in leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Deanna helps her clients create more equitable and inclusive work environments and engage more authentically within their internal and external communities. A gifted communicator, she is a champion for marginalized communities through her work. Her podcast, Uplifting Impact with a focus on looking at the intersection of Leadership and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, focuses on solutions and is directed at people who want to break the status quo. Singh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Fordham University, a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University. [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/deanna.singh.10) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannasingh/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Deannasingh1) ## Leave a Comment [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/1f539f85-6ead-40a9-a3eb-a782773e5c66.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/1f539f85-6ead-40a9-a3eb-a782773e5c66) ### Subscribe [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/67732611-6d2a-4bba-adb9-2aee4aab370d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/67732611-6d2a-4bba-adb9-2aee4aab370d) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/98e03c7f-012e-4501-bf38-fb3ee19c17fe.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/98e03c7f-012e-4501-bf38-fb3ee19c17fe) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/486570d3-73d9-41b2-bb95-ff9b714f9207.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/486570d3-73d9-41b2-bb95-ff9b714f9207) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/560326cc-cbe1-4309-bf76-889ea2784d89.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/560326cc-cbe1-4309-bf76-889ea2784d89) ### Recent Posts ### Topics - [Accessibility (1)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/accessibility) - [Culture (1)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/culture) - [Diversity (3)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/diversity) - [Employee (3)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/employee) - [Inclusion (3)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/inclusion) - [Initiative (1)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/initiative) - [leadership (1)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/leadership) - [Plan (1)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/tag/plan) [see all](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/advocating-dei-for-all-the-underrepresented-and-the-represented#) [![2 - white-yellow](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Uplifting%20Impact/2%20-%20white-yellow.png?width=224&name=2%20-%20white-yellow.png)](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/) ### KEEP UP WITH UPLIFTING IMPACT: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER **(631) 533-2662 ****• info@upliftingimpact.com** - [**](https://www.facebook.com/deanna.singh.10) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannasingh/) © 2021 Flying Elephant, LLC All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy Designed and developed by [**Trending Up Strategy**](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com) ** ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=3856324&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Deanna Singh", "url" : "https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/author/deanna-singh" }, "dateModified" : "2022-01-06T09:00:06.058Z", "datePublished" : "2022-01-06T09:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Advocating DEI For All: The Underrepresented and The Represented", "image" : [ "https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/Cecilia%20Ogude%20rec.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting-impact/advocating-dei-for-all-the-underrepresented-and-the-represented", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/2023%20Uplifting%20Impact%20Logo%20(60%20%C3%97%2060%20px).png" }, "name" : "Flying Elephant" } } ```