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Lily Zheng        

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Consultant; Trans Rights Activist

Lily Zheng (they/them) is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategist and consultant who works with organizational leaders to turn their positive intentions into positive impact. A dedicated change-maker and advocate named a Forbes D&I Trailblazer, 2021 DEI Influencer, and Top Voice on Racial Equity, Zheng’s writing and opinions have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and NPR.

They are the author of "Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace" (2017), "The Ethical Sellout" (2019), and "DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing it Right" (2022). Zheng holds an MA in Sociology and BA in Psychology from Stanford University.

They live with their wife in the San Francisco Bay Area and can frequently be found putting together yet another all-black outfit and enjoying good Chinese food.

Speech Topics


Bias-Aware Leadership: Tips and Tools for Managing Unconscious Bias

An unconscious bias training all about taking real action on interpersonal, organizational, and systemic levels.

Entering the Age of Corporate Social Justice

Detailing changing expectations of stakeholders to see companies do social justice work post-2020 and what to do.

Effective Allyship: Turning Good Intentions into Systemic Change

Tools, strategies, and frameworks for those at every level to do effective allyship and create equitable workplace systems.

Optimizing Your Organization’s DEI Strategy

The building blocks of effective DEI strategy, covering concepts, metrics, tactics, implementation, and sustainability.

Away from Purity: Centering Imperfection and Impact

Finding the balance between accountability and humility for organizations doing good. (Hint: it’s not cancel culture)

Doing Good, Survival, and Selling Out: Embracing Complexity in Trying Times

The compromises marginalized communities make to survive, and the ways we can make compromise a little less painful.

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