MEET THE PANEL

Best practices from experienced practitioners

Jackie Ferguson, CDE

Head of Content & Programming, The Diversity Movement

Jackie spent the majority of her career in various aspects of business in small startups to large Fortune 500 companies before earning her designation as Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and becoming co-founder of The Diversity Movement. In her role with TDM, Jackie ensures premium educational content across all platforms. She is a member of the Forbes Business Council and the National Diversity Council and is published in Forbes and Almanac, among other publications. Jackie is a keynote speaker on diversity and belonging topics. She also hosts the Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox podcast, rated as one of the top 15 diversity podcasts to follow.

Jeffrey Despain, CDP

DEI Program Manager, Advance Auto Parts

Jeff is responsible for the development and implementation of programming designed to foster an inclusive workplace culture that values and supports diverse perspectives at Advance Auto Parts. Jeff has a strong ability to iterate and optimize programs and the creativity and drive to build new impactful solutions as well. He led award-winning inclusion initiatives at Blue Cross NC for more than 5 years prior to joining Advance Auto Parts. Jeff holds a MBA from North Carolina State University, a BA in International Studies and Spanish from NC State, and is a Certified Diversity Professional.

Dee McDougal

Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Capco

Dee McDougal is a corporate changemaker and community champion. She is deeply connected to work that falls at the intersection of diversity and business, mainly around race, gender and access to capital and opportunity. Dee uses her marketing know-how to affect change in the areas of diversity + inclusion and culture + engagement. As a D&I executive, nonprofit board member, speaker and consultant on all things inclusion, she is committed to creating workplaces we love.