Wema Hoover, Global Leader & DEI Executive

“Life doesn’t happen to us, it happens because of us, and knowing that allows us to create and chose the life we want.”
Wema Hoover

Wema Hoover, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader, Executive Coach & Culture Curator, shared the true story behind her title with us on Sunday, September 12th, 2021.

Wema has led global DEI efforts for Google, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Bristol-Myers Squibb to help inform and guide corporate leadership. Throughout her career, she has led teams of more than 85 people and developed multiple Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Councils to build internal capabilities related to belonging, unconscious bias, cultural competence, and global leadership.

As a DE&I thought leader, Wema served as a member of the Coqual (Center for Talent Innovation) Hidden Brain Drain Task Force where she provided best practice D&I research working across global markets in China, India, and the US. In addition, Wema is a National Member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and a sought-after speaker on DE&I topics for organizations including The Conference Board, Working Mother, and Diversity Best Practices.

Wema is also an executive coach who holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master’s-level Certificate in Organizational Change Management both from New School University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University and a certification as a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) through the Human Resources Certification Institute.

SUE SAYS

From a very young age, Wema was interested in people and embraced the diverse community she grew up in. Having experienced first hand the joy that comes from diversity of thought and culture, Wema took this knowledge and landed in leadership roles with fortune 500‘s to help with their DEI initiatives. While she brought her expertise to these roles, I believe it’s her innate optimism that has led to her success.