Laurel Falconi is the Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Nestlé in Canada and has led three initiatives having a meaningful impact on employee engagement and inclusivity. In partnership with the Pride and Gender ERGs, she created Transgender Inclusion Guidelines. Laurel also delivered Inclusive Leadership training at the First Time People Manager Training Program, which fosters authentic leaders and is centered on the six Cs of leadership: curiosity, collaboration, courage, cognizance of bias, cultural competence, and commitment. A third initiative involved enhancing employee engagement surveys by incorporating questions assessing experiences of inclusion and belonging within teams and the organization.
To develop a positive and inclusive workplace, Laurel prioritizes open communication and has developed supporting strategies. She holds regular Council and Committee meetings and feedback sessions, has implemented cross-functional teams to foster collaboration, and supports five volunteer-led employee resource groups, as well as three volunteer led functional streams, ensuring DE&I is embedded across the organization. Laurel actively supports employees in celebrating diversity by promoting cultural events and awareness campaigns within the organization. She embeds the principles of DE&I into existing training programs, e-learnings, workshops and more.
Laurel leads with empathy, effective communication, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.