Jignasha Grooms

CHRO, Epicor Software

Lance Matthiesen

Global Manager, McKinsey Black Network Programs at McKinsey & Company

Dr. Ashley Stafford

Licensed Psychologist

Increasing diversity in leadership is imperative for corporations. However, many companies seem to be stuck when finding effective solutions to develop their diverse rising leaders. 

We’re bringing together a great panel to discuss the unique challenges that diverse employees face and how business leaders can provide the right support to help them on their leadership journeys. 

Here’s some of what we’ll cover:

• The realities of being a diverse rising leader - the extra burdens at home and work, and lack of access to support systems such as mentors, sponsors, coaches, and other resources needed for successful trajectories into leadership.  In the U.S., women spend 1.5 hours more on unpaid work every day than men, and 40% of family caregivers identity as BIPOC.

• The role of self-work in the leadership journey and how business leaders like yourself can support the process.  Rising leaders need time and space for introspection as well as channels for objective feedback.   Leader self-awareness is the #1 trait most highly correlated with organizational success.

• Using vulnerability to build trust and create a psychologically safe space for growth.

Featured Business Leaders

Jignasha Grooms is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Epicor Software. She is a demonstrated leader with a breadth of technology industry experience in Human Resources and Business and Sales Operations. Based out of Epicor headquarters in Austin, Texas, Grooms is focused on strengthening employee engagement at the company as well as its globally diverse, customer-first culture.

Prior to Epicor, she held a variety of leadership roles in human resources and global talent acquisition at Cisco, Freescale and Dell, gaining extensive international business experience.

Grooms holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish Literature from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.

Lance Matthiesen is the Global Manager, McKinsey Black Network (MBN) Programs at McKinsey & Company. He is responsible for the programs related to the growth, progression, and cultural inclusion of Black colleagues across the globe. Prior to joining McKinsey & Company, Lance spent seven years in the social sector at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). MLT is a social entrepreneurship organization that provides leadership skill development fellowships to over 1,000 high-achieving college and MBA students from underrepresented communities – Black, LatinX, and Native American – to help them realize their full potential. Prior to joining MLT, Lance led commercial teams at media, tech, and professional services organizations including the Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), United Communications Group, Roll Call, Cyveillance, and the Washington Post.

Lance currently serves on the board of ProInspire (Washington, D.C.), and is a Trustee at his undergraduate alma mater, Bates College (ME). He previously held board positions on the Montgomery, County Community Foundation (Maryland) and Bright Beginnings Daycare (Washington, D.C.).

Lance and his wife live in Chevy Chase, MD with their two young adult children, Logan and Cole. Part of the empty nest void is filled by their 7-year old Rhodesian Ridgeback. Lance, Tracey and their boys enjoy outdoor activities, especially in Montana, where they spend time in the spring, summer, and winter. Lance’s other interests include traveling, reading, bicycling, and public policy (25-plus years in Washington, D.C., will do that to you).

Dr. Ashley Stafford has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in counseling from St. Edward’s University, and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Central Kansas VA Healthcare System where she worked in the neuropsychology unit as well as in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her training was most robust in trauma and stressor-related disorders and her work in private practice has incorporated the same techniques she found effective in combat veterans.

Dr. Stafford previously taught Intro to Psychology at Concordia University for their accelerated degree program and continues to make teaching a regular part of her practice. She speaks often on best practices related to handling shame, anxiety, boundaries, cognitive demand, and self-care.