Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Influencers
The DE&I Influencers list honors individuals who are advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within their organizations and across the workforce solutions ecosystem at large.
Donnell Campbell
Honoree Profile
Donnell Campbell’s (he/him) journey in the world of DE&I began at the age of 15 when his mother sent him to a camp to learn about people from different cultures. That experience gave him a deeper understanding of people he didn’t regularly interact with, and that is when he knew he had to be the voice for those who didn’t have one.
“Before that, I didn’t understand what the Jewish community went through or the plight of being a South Asian, as most of the people who looked like me stayed in the same neighborhood. But that experience at 15 educated me about things I was unaware of,” he says.
Today, as the head of global diversity, equity and inclusion at Aston Carter, Campbell is making a real difference by partnering closely with executive leadership and internal employee resource groups and forming strategic alliances with diverse professional associations to further advance Aston Carter’s DE&I strategy.
“DE&I is all about treating people how they want to be treated, not how you want them to treat you,” he says.
DE&I is all about treating people how they want to be treated, not how you want them to treat you.
Campbell is extremely proud to lead courageous conversations that encourage employees to engage in meaningful dialogue centered on DE&I.
“These conversations provide a platform for women, LGBTQ and other vulnerable communities to share their experiences. We’re really proud of the additional conversations going beyond that ‘one moment,’ which has given everybody a better perspective of what’s happening.”
Beyond the workplace, Campbell currently serves as board secretary for the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and is actively involved with several organizations focused on helping young Black men advance in the corporate and education arena.
“My goal is to help them see there’s more to the world than just what’s inside their neighborhood and getting them the exposure I was fortunate enough to get.”
A firm believer in being transparent and owning up to mistakes, Campbell is committed to living a life honoring the legacy his mother left behind — by respecting all and impacting as many people as he possibly can.