Skip page header and navigation

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. 

2024 DE&I Influencers

Megan McCann

Founder and CEO | McCann Partners

Honoree profile

Since she was young, Megan McCann has lived by three lessons her father taught her: Give a firm handshake with eye contact, treat everyone the same and find a way to give back to the community in which you live and work. This foundation has led to DE&I becoming her north star.

McCann started McCann Partners because she wanted to funnel her passion by creating career pathways for women and underrepresented populations. She quickly noticed women make up more than half of college graduates, but fewer than 11% are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. This meant she had to be intentional about promoting women whenever possible, even small ways, such as speaking another woman’s name when that person isn’t there to promote her personal interest.

The focus on promoting women is something McCann lives every day by leading an IT staffing firm — and it’s something she practices outside of work as well. Twelve years ago, she co-founded ARA (Attract, Retain and Advance) for women in technology, which creates mentorships and events to lift women up.

My goal [is] to surround women with others who can support them and build community at the same time.

In March of this year, McCann arranged five luncheons, each attended by eight to 15 diverse women, as a way “to surround women with others who can support them and build community at the same time.” Much to her delight, many women have shared with her what a great impact it had on them. Consequently, she now has women asking to be invited because they heard about the amazing experience their colleagues and friends had at one of these luncheon events.

As McCann works with leaders across different organizations on how to move DE&I forward in their organizations, her message is to just start and keep going — an approach she believes in wholeheartedly. McCann recalls a recent conversation with her mother, who overheard her on her daily calls and commented that she often repeats the same message over and over. “I can’t afford not to be on repeat,” McCann replied. “We aren’t where I can stop talking about it, and I will continue to do this as long as needed.”