Who I Am
Shannon Rivers
As a Black Queer woman, creating community within organisations has been something I am passionate about since I’ve often been the only member of a marginalised group in business. Because of this, I’ve developed key ways to open and connect pathways of a business/organisation to engage and connect with their staff.
In my Diversity & Inclusion Consultancy, I have changed and grown EDI strategies across multiple avenues from recruitment to formation of Employee Resource Groups and everything in between. I often take risks and, in exit interviews at places I have worked, have proposed changes to business reporting policies and have subsequently been hired me to create bespoke policies that meet the needs of the business and its employees.
I am a collaborator by nature and use this as a way to get buy-in from various stakeholders. I ask the right questions at the right time to the right people to determine what policy amendments work best and align these with best practices in EDI and local legislation.
I have a knack for research and always investigate how other organisations in the same sector deal with reporting procedures. I then curate bespoke policies and guide the business on its implementation. I create lasting change through collaborative efforts.
I work to curate EDI strategies that suit your organisation. I research best practices, negotiate changes with various stakeholders from the C-Suite to non-executive board members and employees and through collaboration with underrepresented groups and the top executives we make a catalyst for change.
I help businesses and organisations overhaul their EDI strategies by administering Diversity audits which give a snapshot of current demographics and culture within a business/organisation.
I have given webinars on various topics, giving businesses and individuals bite-sized pieces of EDI issues to digest and come back to me to discuss.
I've been operating in the EDI space since 2015.
High Point Overview
Shannon Rivers
- I have a degree in Organisational Leadership with Diversity Studies from the University of Oklahoma
- Facilitate Workshops
- Create policy and procedures
- Hired multiple times for EDI contracts
- Norfolk Cricket Board approached me to be on their board as lead EDI in January 2022
- I gave a talk at the Women's Institute in January 2022 about Intersectionality
- I am an expert on Legislation around EDI
Full CV
Visit my LinkedIn for more detailed information
Diversity & Inclusion Manager
Results-driven and goal-oriented professional with substantial experience in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategy.
Adept at improving visual marketing presence of brand by managing and implementing marketing programmes and managing best practices integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion practices across businesses. Astute at delivering effective presentations making macro-level theory understandable to a variety of stakeholders. Deft at designing and implementing diversity and inclusion strategies complying with business goals. Ability to review and develop policy that aligns with strategic goals. Skilled in EDI best practices and embedding those into the business, programme management, and presentation delivery. Proficient in MS-Office, whilst having good knowledge in web-based applications. Equipped with effective communication, team work, interpersonal, leadership, negotiations, and team management skills.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Diversity & Inclusion Strategy Negotiations Research & Development
Policy Development Programme Management Relationship Management
People Leadership Employment Law. Community Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Shannon Rivers Consultancy, Norwich, UK 2020 – Present
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Deliver succinct and superior strategic development to embed Diversity & Inclusion into the fabric of businesses. Utilise expertise in D&I best practices to develop marketing campaigns and strategies. Lead workshops and webinars across entire businesses to educate teams on issues surrounding Diversity & Inclusion.
- Led workshop for small business which saw 60% growth in year-on-year sales directly relating to strategic development built upon in workshop.
- Developed model call copy to attract diverse models and supported businesses to carry this forward.
- Increased revenue by 35% working on photoshoot sets, maximising visual representation of underrepresented communities.
- Created presentations about a variety of D&I topics which have been purchased for organisations to use in update training with their teams
Impact Culture, London, UK (Remote) 2022 – Present
Community Manager
Lucy & Yak, Brighton, UK (Remote) 2020 – Present
Community Manager (& Diversity & Inclusion Consultant | December 2020-June 2021)
Deliver excellent customer services by conducting and intervening in virtual interaction with customers across business. Utilise innovative techniques to and attract them to purchase from the brand and engage customers. Act as Community manager for 11K person fan group of the brand. Supervise a small team of admins and moderators team to achieve organisational goals. Co-lead and part of Advisory Panel to oversee increased visual marketing and internal changes related to Diversity & Inclusion.
- Established framework for new social media community on Facebook focused on social learning and brand presence.
- Internal Diversity and Inclusion Consultant leading workshops; strategic development of brand ethics and focus on EDI.
- Led growth of social media following by reworking Brand voice, helping to reframe the business from a small business mindset to middle-size business etiquette.
GroVia, Montana, USA (Remote) 2018 – 2020
Social Media Manager & Programme Manager
Deliver excellent customer services by conducting virtual interaction with customers. Utilise innovative techniques to engage customers and attract them to buy items. Act as Community manager for 15K person fan group of the brand. Supervise 7 to 10 members of volunteer moderators team to achieve organisational goals. Oversee Content Creator Programme that increased visual marketing presence of the brand for underrepresented communities.
- Produced 25% brand growth through Content Creator Programme.
- Led Search Engine Optimisation and provided alt text to make posts on social media accessible.
Safekids, Delaware and Oklahoma, USA 2015 – Present
Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor
Serve as instructor at Safe Kids USA National Certification Programme. Certify new Child Passenger Safety Technicians by coordinating with over 400 individuals and numerous agencies. Act as lead instructor and manage class from start to finish. Allocate modules and delegate tasks to other instructors to maintain operations.
- Aided 4K families to keep kids safe in vehicles.
- Oversaw six certification courses, while managing six instructors in each course.
- Certified 120 new technicians through proper training.
- Provided Cultural Sensitivity and Microaggressions webinar for 500+ Technicians.
Reimagined : Diversity, Delaware, USA 2018 – 2019
CEO & Consultant
Supported brands by providing high quality diversity consultancy to improve market share in underrepresented communities. Conducted policy development training sessions and workshops by ensuring compliance with company needs. Performed exceptionally on campaigns, presentations, and workshops assuring delivery of pillar items to average 300 people.
- Developed discrimination policy for June and Januray to avoid racism in future.
- Enhanced diversity issues awareness by operating workshops for GroVia Modern Cloth Diapers.
- Improved visual diversity in ad campaign by working with LuvBug SPF towels.
State of Delaware office of Highway Safety, Delaware, USA 2016 – 2018
Fitting Station Coordinator
Provided car seat safety information and resources to caregivers. Headed overall functions related to appointments of diary. Controlled personally identifying information adhering with department procedure and law. Established community partnerships with local businesses, hospitals, and charities to accomplish shared goals. Supported impoverished communities by initiating two subsidiary programmes. Presented to 400+ participants about the importance of creating safe spaces to ask questions in the wider community. Connected Child passenger Safety Technicians in Delaware by creating newsletter / community group on social media. Delivered important information of the month through newsletter by compiling data and providing list of upcoming events. Assisted several communities in the state by developing documents and compiling resources.
- Collaborated with local businesses and community partners that improved Occupant Protection Programme reach by 48%.
- Developed strategies to increase social media engagement across all platforms.
Additional experience as Customer Service Specialist at June & January LLC, Account Support / Community Manager (Contract) at Truffle Social, and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor at Nemours DuPont Pediatrics.
EDUCATION
Bachelors of Arts in Organisational Leadership with Diversity Studies GPA: 3.83 (1st class Honors)
University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | 2017-2021
United States High School Diploma, GPA : 3.5 (A)
Houston County High School | Warner Robins, Georgia | 2006
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor, 2015 - 2023
Jodi Glickman On Pitching Yourself, 2020 – No Expiration Date
Learn Social Media Monitoring, 2020 – No Expiration Date
Social Media Marketing Foundations, 2020 – No Expiration Date
© 2022 Shannon Rivers. All rights reserved.
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