Paula P.

About Paula P.

Strategic, dynamic and visionary diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leader, with outstanding organizational, culture-change, facilitation, relationship-building and problem-solving skills. Powerful change agent, innovator, and influencer, with exceptional ability to leverage diverse talents, perspectives, and resources to create transformational change.Highlights include:• Recognized as a Top 100 D&I Thought Leader by U.S. State Department. • Speaker, writer, presenter, panelist, facilitator and advisor for numerous universities, boards, and organizations, including Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business, Harvard University, Suffolk University, and Northeast Human Resource Association (NEHRA). • Former adjunct professor for Cornell University ILR, Diversity Certification Program.• Provided 20+ years of organizational consulting services, specializing in DEI, Conflict, and Strategic Change. • Past-president of Citizens for Public Schools, the largest educational policy and advocacy organization in MA. • Co-creator of Boston City-Wide Dialogues and Police/Youth/Community Dialogues, now under the auspices of YWCA Boston and which have since become national models for the YWCA.• Co-creator of the racial equity, ground-breaking Angry Heart Initiative and Connections Create a Healthier Community, co-founded with Jay Fedigan, the creator of The Angry Heart, an award winning documentary on the impact of racism on heart disease among African-Americans.• Founding co-chair of the Global Education Task Force of the Massachusetts Department of Education.• Former expert for Ask the HR Expert column on Boston.com. Guest expert on Bullying in the Workplace, for WGBH-TV\'s Greater Boston show. Quoted and highlighted in the press and various media.• Directed International Customer Services for top financial software company.Note common misspellings: Paula Parnegian, Paula Parnigian, Paula Parmegian, Paula Parneghian, Parmeghian, Parmigian

Experience

1. Head of Diversity & Inclusion

   Eversource Energy

   Jul 2014 — Present · Westwood, MA, US

   Direct and lead DEI strategy and implementation, contributing as a change agent and cultural architect across the enterprise. Work in partnership with senior leaders and executive sponsors to create, adapt, and rollout D&I strategic plan. • Direct, lead and manage over 25 working groups, including D&I Council and 6 business resource groups (BRGs) with chapters across the enterprise. Increased employee engagement of D&I by over 3 years.• Developed and launched Racial Equity and Social Justice strategic plan and task force to address race, justice, and equity, focusing on creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, increasing leadership commitment, and enhancing community giving and partnerships. • Created D&I Micro-Learning Series; What If? Conversations to address business needs; online D&I Tool Kit; Respect in the Workplace, Day of Understanding, and Unconscious Bias training for leaders and employees; and other resources and tools to identify and solve critical business issues, build awareness and inclusion, and promote organizational engagement and excitement for D&I. • Developed annual D&I Week, to deepen D&I learning, engagement and excitement across enterprise. Includes speaker series, employee spotlight series, multicultural festivals, games, community giving, officer-led sessions, and employee recognition events in over 70 locations. • Partnered with Customer Care on Multilingual Translation Project to identify and prioritize language translation needs and create Spanish-language customer collateral and digital platform.• Partnered with Director of Business Development for State of New Hampshire to create Economic Vitality NH (EVNH), which facilitates cross-sector collaborations that advance the recruitment, retention, inclusion, and support of a diverse, skilled workforce for the 21st Century.

Education

• Bridgewater State University

  BA, Mathematics

Skills

• Policy
• Organizational Development
• Analytics
• Emotional Intelligence
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Public Speaking
• Program Development
• Human Resources
• Executive Development
• Culture Change
• Career Management
• Program Management
• Psychology
• Staff Development
• Management Development
• Strategic Planning
• Nonprofits
• Workshop Facilitation
• Instructional Design
• Change Management
• 360 Feedback
• Facilitation
• Executive Coaching
• Non-Profits
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Start-Ups
• Higher Education
• Employee Training
• Interviews
• Leadership Development
• Conflict
• Strategy
• Personal Development
• Teaching
• Training
• Workplace and School Bullying
• Coaching
• Training Delivery
• Career Counseling
• Leadership