Deshong Perry-Smitherman
Strategy Leader | Global Conference Executive Producer | Corporate Program Showrunner | Communications Expert | Emmy Winning Journalist | Speaker Coach | Storyteller | I make things happen.
- Role
- Senior Director, Global Inclusion Strategy, Programs and Operations at Eli Lilly and Company
- Location
- Indianapolis, IN, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Deshong Perry-Smitherman
I’m a strategic leader and experience architect who designs programs that transform culture and advance inclusion at scale. As Sr. Director of Strategy, Operations & Programming for the Inclusion Office, I shape the vision behind our most influential leadership engagement, Level Up, ensuring every detail reflects our values and drives impact.What sets my work apart? Data. I don’t just create experiences—I analyze insights to understand employee needs and translate them into strategies that resonate. Every theme, every interaction, every moment is informed by data-driven decisions that make inclusion real and measurable.My expertise spans enterprise strategy, experience design, and narrative development—not logistics. I don’t plan events; I create immersive experiences that inspire leaders and employees to act. With a background as an award-winning journalist and news producer and a long career in internal and external communications, I bring a unique ability to craft stories that connect people to purpose.What I Do Best- Build strategies that embed inclusion into leadership and culture- Use data to design experiences that move beyond “events” to create lasting impact- Align messaging and brand narratives to enterprise goals- Lead programs that elevate belonging and leadership excellenceInclusion isn’t an event—it’s the foundation for lasting change. And data is the compass that guides every step.
Experience
Senior Director, Global Inclusion Strategy, Programs and Operations
Dec 2022 — Present · Indianapolis, IN, US
Education
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MSJ, Journalism
Roosevelt University
BSJ, Journalism
Northwestern University
Media Management Certificate, Media Management
Skills
- Editing
- Journalism
- Writing
- Public Relations
- Social Media
- Broadcast
- Video Production
- Press Releases
- Public Speaking
- Multimedia
- Media Relations
- Television
- Blogging
- Enps
- Teaching
- Non-Profits
- Nonprofits
- Entertainment
- Copy Editing
- Newspapers
- Strategic Communications
- Ap Style
- Storytelling
- Radio
- Speech Writing
- Leadership
- New Media
- Broadcast Journalism
- Social Media Marketing
- Magazines
- News Writing
- Intranet Strategy
- Corporate Communications
- Interpersonal Communication
- Training
- Motivational Speaking
- Dynamic Speaker
- Executive Coaching
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