Press Release

Washington, DC (November 6, 2026) – DFA announced today that Don Smith, Chief Talent and Inclusion Officer at Crowell & Moring LLP, and Zakiyyah T. Salim-Williams, Partner & Chief Diversity Officer at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, are the recipients of the 2026 Culture Catalyst Awards.

Established in 2023, the Culture Catalyst Award recognizes visionary leaders who champion human-centered workplace transformation and drive meaningful, lasting culture change. The 2026 awards were presented during DFA’s Annual Conference on Thursday, November 5th in Washington, DC.

“Don Smith and Zakiyyah Salim-Williams are visionary people leaders who understand the power of creating workplaces where people feel valued, connected, and supported to thrive,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of DFA. “We are thrilled to recognize their leadership, impact, and commitment to building human-centered cultures.”

Don Smith

Chief Talent and Inclusion Officer, Crowell & Moring LLP

As Chief Talent and Inclusion Officer at Crowell & Moring, Don Smith has focused his career on creating environments where people can realize their potential, build meaningful careers, and feel a true sense of belonging.

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition,” said Smith. “It truly reflects the commitment of firm leadership and countless colleagues who show up every day determined to make our organization a place where every person can thrive, contribute, and belong. This award reaffirms my belief that the strongest organizations are those that never stop investing in their people.”

For Don, the most meaningful measure of his impact is the people whose careers have grown as a result of the opportunities and support they received.

“The accomplishment I am most proud of is not a program or initiative but the individuals who have flourished because of the opportunities, support, and encouragement they received,” he said. “Knowing that someone stayed, advanced, or discovered a path they may not have otherwise seen is the most meaningful measure of success.”

That same focus on people shapes his belief in the importance of human-centered cultures.

“A human-centered culture recognizes that people perform at their best when they feel respected, connected, and valued,” he said. “Investing in a human-centered culture is not peripheral to our mission; it is central to it. Culture shapes how we develop talent, serve clients, innovate, and achieve lasting success.”

“All of us at Crowell are so very proud that Don Smith is being honored with the 2026 DFA Culture Catalyst Award,” said Phil Inglima, Chair of Crowell & Moring. “Don has made our culture a living, breathing characteristic of our firm for all at Crowell. We are so fortunate to benefit from his leadership, integrity, and large-hearted spirit.”

“Don is an extraordinarily creative and thoughtful leader whose balanced approach has strengthened every aspect of our talent strategy and firm community,” said Chahira Solh, Chair of Crowell’s Executive Committee. “His innovation and flexibility have enabled him to continually strengthen our approach to talent and development while cultivating an inclusive community where people feel connected, valued, supported, and seen.”

Zakiyyah T. Salim-Williams

Partner & Chief Diversity Officer, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

For more than 15 years at Gibson Dunn, Zakiyyah Salim-Williams has helped shape a culture where lawyers and staff can build meaningful careers, while using her own career to create impact within the firm and beyond.

“Receiving this award from an organization I have long admired is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful for the recognition,” said Salim-Williams.

Among the experiences she is most proud of are opportunities to use her career in service of others, including working with leaders on the Board of the Alliance for Asian American Justice to address anti-Asian hate and helping launch a traveling museum dedicated to the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall.

“I feel incredibly fortunate that my firm’s commitment to pro bono service has given me the opportunity to contribute to causes that have such lasting significance,” she said.

For Zakiyyah, human-centered culture is deeply connected to the relationships people build and the ways an organization and its people shape one another.

“An organization’s culture is, in so many ways, a reflection of its people,” she said. “What I could never have imagined when I joined Gibson Dunn more than 15 years ago was the profound impact this firm, and especially its people, would have on me. They have helped shape me and made me a better leader, colleague, wife, and mother. This family that I have built here has been one of the most meaningful and unexpected gifts of my career and life.”

“The Culture Catalyst Award is given to people who help cultivate workplaces where people can thrive. Zakiyyah has done just that at Gibson Dunn for over 15 years,” said Barbara Becker, Chair & Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “She has been a steady source of support and inspiration for lawyers and staff building careers across this firm. We are so proud to see DFA recognize her.”