REBEKAH GREER MELOCIK is a lyricist and bookwriter. Her work with composer-collaborator, Jacob Yandura, includes WRINGER (dir: Stephen Brackett), THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAAN (book: Harrison David Rivers) and HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO (dir: Sammi Cannold), which starts performances on Broadway on Nov 15, 2023. Recognitions / residencies include: SPACE on Ryder Farm residency, Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, NAMT Festival of New Musicals, Ars Nova’s UNCHARTED residency, the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, the York Theatre's NEO residency, the Yale Institute for Music Theatre, the Dramatists Guild fellowship, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Cap21’s Writers Residency and Ars Nova’s ANT Fest. Rebekah holds a B.A. in Poetry from University of Southern California and an M.F.A from New York University’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. She also has written stories for the award-winning educational company Chess At Three.

Imani Russell [they/them] is a queer Black+Boricua multi-hyphenate artist from Crown Heights (unceded Lenape land). Trained in classical music, musical theatre, and acting, Imani has performed off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (EFF), and is an emerging voice actor. As a songwriter under the name NANí, they recently released a two-song EP titled "sweetbitter creature", and have an album coming out in 2024. Imani believes in art as an act of love and community. Selected credits: HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO [Syracuse Stage]; THE CIVILITY OF ALBERT CASHIER [The Player’s Theatre]; MAMMELEPHANT [Superhero Clubhouse]; SYZYGY, OR THE CEASING OF THE SUN [Two River Theater]; ABOVE THE NOISE [Dixon Place]; LEGALLY BLONDE [EFF]. For more info: www.imanirussell.com | @imanithecowboy

Tiffani Rase (she/her) is a Senior Content Strategist at CallRail. She has six years of experience in User experience and content strategy. Tiffani is the Co-chair of the Divergent Minds Employee Resource Group (ERG). In Tiffani’s free time, she likes to paint, travel, hang out with friends, and play cozy games.

Josephina Kaiser (she/her) is a Design Systems Designer at CallRail. She has seven years of experience in UI and Product Design. Josephina is the Co-Chair for the Divergent Minds Employee Resource Group (ERG). In Josephina’s free time she loves to play board games and video games with family and friends, watch movies, paint, and play with her dog.

Elyse Hunt Elyse Hunt (she/her) is the Web Producer at CallRail. She has six years of experience in web production. Elyse is the Events & Brand Manager for the Divergent Minds Employee Resource Group (ERG). In her free time, Elyse loves to cook, spend time with her dog, and ride theme park thrill rides.

Emily Russ (she/her) is a Support Specialist at CallRail. She has three years of experience in customer support, in one form or another. Emily is one of the ambassadors for the Divergent Minds Employee Resource Group (ERG). In her free time, she enjoys drawing, tabletop role-playing games, and thrifting!

Jordan Freking is originally from Iowa, went to college in Massachusetts, and has been living in different parts of Mexico for the last 11 years. He has a degree in American Studies with a specialization in Critical & Cultural Theory and a minor in Latina/o studies. This, in conjunction with his very intersectional existence, has made him very passionate about all things inclusion and diversity. To add to this, after having worked at a language center, it became apparent to him that he was a language person, and as such, he really enjoys thinking about the intersection of culture, language, and identity. While helping hoteliers with their problems, Jordan began to take advantage of all of the I&D resources Expedia had to offer. Somewhere along his never-ending quest for more and more information on these topics, he fell into the world of AIM (Ability Inclusion Movement), one of Expedia’s Inclusion Business Groups. In hindsight, it was inevitable that a person like Jordan, who is neurodiverse a couple of times over, end up associated with AIM. Currently, Jordan is an Operation Improvement Analyst on the conventional lodging side of Expedia in the Americas. In other words, he gets to think about how to make operational processes more efficient, but just because he is busy as an OIA, that doesn’t mean he has put inclusion and diversity on the backburner. He is the AIM Chapter Lead for AIM LATAM. He is the VP for the LATAM I&D Council. He is an Ally Skills Workshop Facilitator, and in his spare time, he’s studying cello and French, his sixth language. At present, Jordan has figured out how to make his neurodiversity work for him, and he hopes that all neurodivergent people out there can eventually do the same.

Using her background in hospitality, Emi wants to create a world that is more inclusive to all, no matter their ultimate destination. With personal experience of visible and invisible disabilities, she strives to make change for the community in everything she does. Emi has been with Expedia Group for over 7 years, providing consultations to Lodging Hotel Partners across the Northeast and parts of the Midwest. Beyond her expected duties, Emi has become an Inclusion & Diversity Champion, a Mental Health Ambassador with a Mental Health First Aid Certification, an Ally Skills Facilitator, and the Global Development Chair for the AIM IBG (Ability Inclusion Movement Inclusion Business Group). As an Inclusion & Diversity Champion, Emi created, managed, and published the Lodging Accessibility Guide, which provides guidance for Lodging Hotel Partners on how to appropriately market to and provide the best experience for travelers with disabilities. This guide was showcased at the Expedia Group annual conference in 2022 and 2023 and was most recently recognized in a Forbes article for creating a more inclusive travel experience. As the Global Development Chair, it is her focus to find and create growth and development opportunities for members of AIM. Most notably has been the success of the “Own Your Dreams� development program, which ran for six weeks in the Fall of 2022, and focused on skills for personal branding, networking, and goal setting. The program had almost 1K active participants across all Inclusion Business Groups, and scored a 4.5/5 in career relevance for the community members. The 2023 edition of the program is currently under way! So whether it’s creating a more inclusive experience for travelers, or helping people create a path of growth & development, Emi strives to be an example of what can be achieved.

Hi everyone, I’m Claire Cumming and I work for the amazing Travel Tech company, Expedia Group, and I’m based in London. I’ve had the pleasure of working for Expedia Group for the last 6.5 years, always leading large Recruitment Delivery Teams in the Talent Acquisition space. Having lived all my life with a genetic lung disease called Cystic Fibrosis, disability inclusion has always meant a huge amount to me personally. I’m therefore so excited for the journey we’re on at Expedia Group to build an inclusive world for people with disabilities. For us, this means our travelers and employees. In my personal life, I’m a dog mum to two French Bulldogs, Luna and Rio, who keep me both busy and entertained on a daily basis! Outside of work, I enjoy taking long walks in the countryside in an area called Surrey, where I live (and where the film ‘The Holiday� was filmed!)

The Autistic Burnout is Nicole Igarashi, a 45-year-old autistic woman who has had a successful career as an entrepreneur. She has opened a restaurant, launched a food truck, and won awards for her work. However, she also experienced a lot of trauma in her life, and is diagnosed with CPTSD. When she received her autism diagnoses she began to advocate for other autistic adults. She now offers a free peer support group for autistic adults and provides individual coaching sessions. She is passionate about helping other autistic adults who are struggling with burnout, anxiety, and trauma.

Elizabeth Eccleston is a passionate and driven professional with a unique combination of skills in social work and business administration. She holds an MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA from the University of California, Davis, which allows her to bring a holistic perspective to her work. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has held various leadership roles in the education and social work sectors. She has been with 2U, Inc. for over a decade, where she has supported social work students, trained an entire department in academic coaching, and eventually moved into program management. In her current role, she builds relationships with university partners and oversees program strategy, growth, and success. Prior to joining 2U, Elizabeth worked as a domestic violence counselor and a case manager for unhoused youths. She also dedicated four years as a lead volunteer at Transforming Family, where she provided care and support to transgender-identified children and their siblings. Additionally, she co-founded Trans Folx Fighting Eating Disorders (T-FFED), offering clinical trainings for professionals and support to gender diverse individuals in the field of eating disorder recovery. While advancing her career, Elizabeth managed her own invisible disabilities related to mental health, and received a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis. Committed to the idea that all colleagues should be supported and accommodated to bring their whole selves to work, she joined the 2U Ability Resource Network. As the Global Education Chair, she has contributed to building resource guides, moderating panel discussions, and developing a training program for managers to better support employees with mental health challenges, neurodivergence, or disabilities in the workplace. Elizabeth strongly believes in using her own privilege and professional credibility to normalize and destigmatize struggles with mental health and neurodivergence by openly sharing her personal experiences at work.

Kenisha Taylor (She/Her/Hers), a Success Advisor at 2U, lives by the motto: “Be the change you wish to see in the world�-Ghandi. She is grounded in always seeking to be a part of the creation of community spaces where people of all backgrounds can flourish. Her passion for adult education and community engagement has led her through multiple levels in the nonprofit industry before starting her own nonprofit, Life’s Fullness, inc. Life’s Fullness� is committed to providing conferences centered on growth and community engagement to impact how women and girls develop spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Navigating her own diagnosis with Linear Scleroderma, Kenisha’s work with St. Coletta of Greater Washington, Academy of Hope Public Charter School and the Washington Literacy Center in Washington, DC inspires her continual pursuit of a culture of equity in educational and professional spaces for minority, low-income and/or individuals with disabilities. As a leader in education, nonprofits, and technology, Kenisha Taylor delivers high-quality support to adults in educational environments at scale. Currently, she serves as the Treasurer of the Ability Resource Network (ARN) at 2U, collaborating with other members of the leadership to magnify and advocate for the needs of employees with diverse abilities globally, while providing educational and supportive resources and events. Kenisha received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Frostburg State University and Masters in Administration from Trinity Washington University.

As an advocate for social justice, Krista Rae Szaflarsk began her career teaching in under-resourced schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. She gained experience recruiting for a non-profit before focusing on increasing representation in big tech as a campus recruiter. Her personal and professional passions collided at Meta where she serves as Meta’s Global People with Disabilities Recruiting Program Manager and as regional co-lead for Disability@, Meta’s employee resource group for people with disabilities and allies.

Krista Rae has had a chronic health condition since age 11, was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and thrives with mental health conditions. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and a very pampered dog.

Part of the Global DEI Recruiting team at Meta, Maria leads work to increase opportunity for historically underrepresented people, with the aim of driving economic mobility and brilliant careers. Prior to joining Meta, Maria was Head of Talent Acquisition and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Telegraph. She began her career as a Recruiter and, realizing that diversity needed to be a core focus for organizations, began driving DEI projects and leading Employee Resource Groups

Maria was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult following years of experience with its comorbidities. As a Black woman and a mother, she is particularly interested in the intersection of gender, race, neurodiversity and invisible disabilities, and mental health.

Maria is based in London, where she lives with her husband and 12-year-old son. She spends as much time as she can bouldering, and supporting her son in his dream to be a pilot.

LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy | Founder & CEO of Diversability | 3x TEDx Speaker | Well+Good Changemaker, TikTok Trailblazer | Previously: Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, REVOLT

Your product and customers are important. Research shows that 97% of websites and digital products fail at user experience and accessibility, suffer from frustrated users and poor conversion rates, and inflate costs to businesses. I can help you make your product user-friendly and ensure that it satisfies both your business and user needs and increases sales by:
- Identifying your product's value, enhancing product positioning and improving product profitability;
- Helping you better understand your customer needs and develop creative solutions to increase value;
- Working with you to create, develop, and maintain a clear product vision, strategy, and roadmap throughout a project's life cycle.

When talking about diversity and inclusion, often people with disabilities are dismissed despite being the world’s largest minority. They make up over 1 billion people worldwide which is the population size of China! I provide customized consulting services, training sessions, and workshops to business owners, media producers, corporations, educational institutions, event organizers on how to make their websites, media, events accessible so that everyone is included and your message can reach a larger audience. In addition to this, I’m a founder of Audio Accessibility and work with clients on making their podcasts, videos, and events accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people via high quality captioning and other communication access services.

Mary is a Program Manager of Diversity at CVS Health, with a primary focus on Individuals with Disabilities. She is dedicated to delivering strategic, creative and diverse recruitment strategies, ensuring CVS Health has a best-in-class recruiting model.

Patricia is the Principal Technology Product Director and Engineering Manager for Dow Jones Professional Information Business. She is also the author of “Blind Ambition: How to Envision Your Limitless Potential� and has delivered keynotes on the topic of goal achievement to schools, conferences, corporate audiences, as well as fundraisers.

Carmen joined Purple Goat in December 2021 as a Social Media & PR Executive. She has a background in marketing, social media and media psychology.
Originally from Spain, she graduated from a BSc in Psychology and decided to pursue a career in media by moving to the UK and completing a MSc in Media Psychology. Throughout her career she showed a passion for diversity, especially in the media and advertising industries, producing several research projects around those topics. Right after graduating, she started working in marketing and social media in the finance and wellbeing sectors.

Dani is a Campaign Manager with a background in Entrepreneurship. After graduating with a MA in Entrepreneurship and International Business, she created a fitness app for disabled people due to her struggles of trying to find accessible workouts that she could participate in herself.
After meeting Martyn and becoming Purple Goat’s first client, Dani then started freelancing for Purple Goat before joining the team permanently in March 2021.

Harriet is a marketing professional with a range of sector experience. Upon graduating in HR & Business and Marketing Management from De Montfort University, she relocated to Barcelona to join TripAdvisor as a UK Sales and Marketing Specialist where she lived for almost two years before heading onto Dublin working freelance at a Digital Marketing agency, working closely with Start-up companies, supporting with their product launches and full funnel strategy.
Harriet started her Purple Goat journey in 2020 and joined the team as the third employee - she now heads up the Campaign management team and works closely with our portfolio of clients.

Dom Hyams is a media professional who consults and educates internationally on a range of topics including diversity, inclusion and accessibility. He was born with a severe form of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones).
Dom’s career started in TV as a producer at Sunset+Vine, working across varied sporting output including Channel 4’s groundbreaking Paralympic coverage in 2012 and 2016.
Dom joined Purple Goat as Head of Strategy at the beginning of 2021. He is the founding editor of the Disability Power100 - Power List of Disability

Part of the New Business Sales team at PowerToFly, Lex works with companies that care to attract, hire, and retain underrepresented talent while harnessing intersectionality. Before joining PowerToFly, Lex worked within the eCommerce industry and started their DEIB journey at birth but has 13 years of DEIB-related work under their belt.Lex was diagnosed with Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) at birth through a genetic mutation. OI is a genetic or heritable disease in which bones fracture (break) easily, often with no apparent cause or minimal injury. As a disabled queer living in the southern states of the United States, Lex is fully aware of the lack of opportunities for their communities to thrive, so they advocate for remote work and its benefits.Lex lives with their partner of almost eight years with their two dogs and two cats and has various specialist interests ranging from quantum theory to Taylor Swift's Era Tour Surprises.

J. David Hall (he/him) s the founder and CEO of the Foundation for Life Guides for Autistics (LGFA) / NeuroGuides, a U.S.-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 2017. His organization provides business coaching and consultations to companies and organizations on neurodiversity, inclusivity, and life coaching for autistic people and other neurodivergent persons worldwide. He’s a Dad to three persons diagnosed on the autism spectrum (ASD) and was formally diagnosed as an autistic person in 2018.

His team of Neuroguides (life and job coaches) works closely with autistic and other neurodivergent individuals in helping them to succeed socially, occupationally, and relationally. David is passionately focused on guiding people to discover their strengths and enjoy meaningful lives.

Known as a relentless optimist and encourager, David is a celebrated writer who speaks at various national events and is a sought-after DEI and neurodiversity trainer and consultant for corporations.

David lives in the South Puget Sound of Washington state, where he writes, reads, cares for birds, hunts mushrooms, and rides his mountain bike.

Recent and upcoming appearances include:

Recent events and upcoming appearances include Leadership training for several Fortune 500 companies, Different Brains, Spectrum Lights Inclusion Summit, Southwest Washington Autism Conference, Bellingham SHRM, Microsoft, Seattle Aspiring Youth/Delphi Programs/Ryther, Stanford University Neurodiversity Summit, The Elijah Winfrey Show, a featured writer on Neuroclastic.com, North Carolina University, Neuroguides Parent Webinars and Podcast interviews, a founding member of the Diversity with Dignity Global Roundtable, corporate leadership training and coaching services with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and government agencies in neurodiversity and building true inclusive workplace cultures.

Gallup Strengths Attributes: Input, Maximizer, Connectedness, Empathy, and Developer.

Jillian Curwin is a public relations professional and lifelong activist in the little person and disabled communities. Born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, she learned from her parents how to advocate for herself and is now using what she learned to advocate for voices in her communities that are often unheard. She is the founder and owner of Always Looking Up, a personal website and podcast that brings awareness to living life as a little person in an average-height world. Professionally, she has used her experience as a little person to contribute to agency diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Outside of the office she has created a platforms for herself to amplify her advocacy efforts. Always Looking Up came from the fact that, as a little person, she is often looking up at the world, noticing all the little things. On her platforms she discusses adaptive and accessible fashion, disability representation, and the impact of civil rights on the disabled community. Past guests on her podcasts include Judy Heumann, international disability rights activist, Rebecca Cokley, program officer at the Ford Foundation, Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham, the co-directors and co-producers of Crip Camp, and Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Her motto, “Height is just a number, not a limit,� reflects her mindset that being of short stature does not inhibit what one is capable of achieving.

Hannah Olson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Disclo, the first software helping employees safely ask for, verify, and act on accommodation requests at work. Hannah’s own experience navigating her career while undergoing intensive treatment for Lyme disease sparked the idea for her first venture, Chronically Capable, which is now one of the largest and most-used disability recruiting platforms. She is known globally for her disability advocacy, with recent features in Forbes, Inc Magazine, FastCompany, and more.

My Professional Purpose is that I am committed to removing physical and non-physical barriers in the workplace so that everyone can tap into their talents and fulfill their full potential. As a Human Resources Consultant and an Accessibility Consultant, this means I will be able to help employees and companies reach their fullest potential (increasing employee morale) which increases overall productivity within an organization.