DeLibra Wesley

In terms of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, DeLibra Wesley (she/her) is not trying to quickly change the direction of big ships that are already in motion. Instead, she is trying to kick off many small changes that will have ripple effects over time, making impacts she can only begin to imagine.

The Black Women in Staffing network she created is one example. A Black woman herself, Wesley considers herself to have been lucky to find allies who were willing to mentor her and create room for her at the table. “But many women with potential don’t have that,” she says, “so not only do they miss out on opportunities, companies miss out on their talent.” At over 100 members and growing, the network connects women of color to create opportunities for mentoring, information sharing and encouragement.

Many women with potential don’t have [allies and mentors]. So not only do they miss out on opportunities, companies miss out on their talent.

Her company, National Recruiting Consultants, founded in 2021, is another example. A women- and minority-owned staffing company that specializes in placing special education professionals in schools, it is making an impact on multiple levels. The company itself leads by example by being an intentionally diverse and inclusive workplace. Senior leaders are women and mothers, and their team is diverse by every measure. Further, in focusing on special education professionals, Wesley is making a positive impact not only on a group of professionals who are largely women and often undervalued and underpaid but also on the children they work with and the schools they support.

Beyond running her business, Wesley advises staffing firms on strategies for going beyond inclusive hiring to inclusive retention, particularly of BIPOC employees, women and mothers, and she serves as the chairperson of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advocacy (Idea) Group for the American Staffing Association. She also frequently gives talks about her own experience being the only woman of color on an executive team as well as being a single mother of children with special needs. In what little spare time she has, she writes “Goals with DeLibra,” a professional development and lifestyle blog.