2024 Culture Catalyst Honorees
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Winston & Strawn LLP
A law firm DEI professional for nearly twenty years, Sylvia James serves as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for international law firm, Winston & Strawn, where she develops and implements an integrated, metrics-driven DEI strategy to enhance the firm’s diversity and inclusion programs, performance, and profile. Prior to joining Winston, Sylvia served as the diversity lead for a national law firm and practiced law as a labor and employment attorney for more than a decade.
Sylvia masterfully collaborates with key stakeholders to ensure that diversity and inclusion are woven into all aspects of the firm’s recruiting, development, retention and advancement efforts, as well as communications and client relations. She has successfully fostered an inclusive culture that attracts top talent, fosters loyalty, values diverse perspectives, and drives innovation, creativity and growth. Throughout her impressive career, Sylvia has been a steadfast champion of diversity, equity and inclusion and has tirelessly advocated for women and diverse professionals in the legal field. Her self-described “proudest moments” have been witnessing former law students and associates who she championed thrive as leaders, highlighting the power of creating pathways to success for those who might otherwise be overlooked.
Senior Vice President & Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
As the inaugural Senior Vice President & Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Michelle Wimes has developed systems, initiatives and policies that ensure an inclusive and equitable environment for both patients and employees. She has been instrumental in creating a positive culture where employee recruitment, engagement and retention, supplier diversity and health equity are prioritized. During her four-year tenure at the hospital, Michelle has implemented a new DEI action plan and infrastructure, diversity workforce assessments, cross-cultural media assessments, comprehensive diversity education and training, a supplier diversity policy and program, a health equity action plan, community health equity council and much more.
In recent years, under her leadership, the hospital has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women by Newsweek; a Top Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Review; a Best Place to Work for Diversity by Newsweek; and earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI).
Access detailed press release here.
2023 Culture Catalyst Honorees
Managing Director of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the D. E. Shaw group
As the first Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the D. E. Shaw group, Maja draws on years of experience to strengthen existing talent practices at the firm, and develop new ones, as both the workplace and workforce evolve. The impact of her work extends to the wider finance and technology industries.
Maja has spent much of her career developing and supporting a diverse pipeline of professionals and has contributed significantly to creating diversity in organizational leadership. Her skills, tenacity and compassion have enabled her to successfully develop inclusive cultures that foster creativity, flexibility, and authentic growth. A trained executive leadership coach and Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional, Maja is former president of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP).
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Yusuf Z. Zakir, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Davis Wright Tremaine, leads his firm’s efforts in building a culture where all attorneys and staff—including those from traditionally underrepresented communities in the legal profession—can be successful. He collaborates with key stakeholders to develop and implement strategies, programs, and initiatives to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
Yusuf’s role at Davis Wright Tremaine has been positioned to allow for influence in important processes at the firm, including Executive Committee meetings, equity partner compensation deliberations, and the partnership admission process. In addition to these big picture opportunities that help bend the trajectory of the firm towards equity and inclusion, Yusuf works one-on-one with firm leaders as they work through opportunities and challenges on their teams. A thought leader in the DEI space, he also partners with clients and external organizations to foster DEI in the broader legal profession.
Access detailed press release here.