Our Impact
Kind words from our trusted clients.
Using an evidence-based approach combined with highly skilled, knowledgeable and resourceful consultants, Empowered was able to meet Sleeman where we were at and guide us in creating systemic level change for our equity deserving employees. Michelle is a trusted thought partner and I would highly recommend Empowered EDI to any organization looking to evaluate or grow within the DEI space.
— Adrienne Fox, National Director, HR Shared Services, Sleeman Breweries
“I would recommend Empowered EDI without reservation to any organization looking to make a meaningful impact on equity, diversity and inclusion. Michelle and her team felt almost embedded within our organization, ensuring that recommended actions were not only impactful and responsive to employee feedback, but aligned with our organization’s desired culture, values and strategy.”
— Anthy Lovachis, Manager, Employee Experience & Culture, IESO
“When I think "real systems change," Empowered offers truly progressive and innovative insights and solutions that drive long-term, sustained change. They take a personalized approach to a complex and nuanced subject and will undoubtedly help your organization make measurable and meaningful progress!”
— Serena Nguyen, Director, People Experience & Strategy, MaRS
“The best part of working with Empowered is the approach they take to truly understand their clients’ needs and realities. While working with Michelle she really took the time to understand our needs, stakeholders, employees and more importantly our culture before recommending a path forward. Michelle and her team were able to come back with a co-created approach that was truly personalized to an SSENSE and as a result the change management was more seamless and easier. In addition, even after the mandate was completed, the Empowered team continues to check-in to see what worked and what did not. Unlike other consulting firms - you will not get a proposal that is “recycled” - but a proposal that has been designed personally for your organizational needs.”
— Sharlinee Maharaj, VP People & Culture, Altitude Sports
“Michelle’s openness, charisma, and ability to inspire and build trust are hallmarks of what makes her a great leader in this space and her team incredible partners on our journey. Combining this approach with a strong foundation based on having quality data has been the secret to getting this delicate, yet critical, work done right. The recommended approach was customized to meet our unique needs, while being based on best practices that are proven to work. Each member of the team at Empowered that we’ve had the opportunity to connect with has embodied that same spirit of partnership and collaboration. We look forward to continuing this incredible partnership and seeing what we can accomplish together.”
— John Stevens, CEO, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association
“Michelle is a strong, thoughtful and professional leader who is always looking for ways to optimize performance. She brought deep insight and thought leadership to diversity and inclusion during her time at BMO and helped shape the direction of the company. She is action-oriented, purposeful, and results-driven while maintaining strong empathy and exemplifying deep listening skills in an effort to help make things happen. I would highly recommend Michelle.”
— Julie Barker-Merz, Senior VP, South Western Ontario Division, BMO Financial Group
“As a result of our work together, our Wealth business achieved diversity goals that were strategically important to our success - including growing the number of women in key roles and equipping our people to meet the needs of a diverse client base. Michelle gave us the clarity and action plan that we needed to make measurable and meaningful change.”
— Charyl Galpin, Chief Regulatory Officer, Wealth Management, BMO Financial Group
“Wow - we have never worked with an EDI consultant that does such an amazing job of marrying the qualitative sentiments and feelings from our employees, with a detailed quantitative framework to measure our progress. Empowered has helped us come out of this process with a clear action plan that reflects the voices and experiences of our employees, and that will strengthen our business overall. They took the time to listen to and understand our goals, and acted as a mentor and sounding board to help me improve my own understanding of EDI. Thank you!”
— Rohan Mahimker, Co-CEO, Prodigy
“We value the partnership that Empowered takes based on a collaborative approach to advise and shape the groundwork for our program. We gain a sense of genuine authentic interaction and care in understanding our unique organization and objectives. We appreciate the humble, open dialogue, continuous engagement and quality of work. We never feel left behind!”
— Andrea Vrbanac, VP, People & Culture, Axonify
“We've been working with Empowered for about one and a half years and so thankful to have their team by our side through our EDI journey. Michelle comes with a wealth of knowledge and has helped us navigate our approach to introducing EDI to our organization with solutions tailored to our current state. As a global company, we also needed a team that could be flexible hosting workshops in different time zones which Michelle has been able to accommodate. It's exciting to see the team at Empowered grow and each team member we've been introduced to has been equally professional, offering thoughtful guidance and support for all our needs. I highly recommend Empowered to anyone looking for practical ways to create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive environment.”
— Agnes Chow, Senior People Partner, OANDA
“Michelle is a charismatic and engaging leader who is incredibly skilful at building strong relationships quickly. She led a ground breaking and award-winning Diversity and Inclusion programme at RICS. Through her work she initiated a series of powerful conversations focused on celebrating difference that were challenging, stimulating and educational. It created a positive atmosphere around the inclusion agenda and resulted in significant improvements our organizational metrics on D&I.”
— Tiger De Souza, Director, National Trust
“When we began our EDI journey, we had no idea of what was involved or how to approach the project. After interviewing 3 or 4 consultants, it was clear that Michelle and her team were the right fit. They understood our needs and provided us with a strategy that resulted in a comprehensive action plan. The Empowered team was there for us every step of the way through the entire process, while being very responsive and thorough. We are now able to work towards providing a safer environment for our employees and volunteers. We also have a plan to improve the way we deliver services through an EDI lens. It’s been a pleasure working with the Empowered team and have no hesitation in engaging them further when we require more guidance.”
— Anthony Tirone, Executive Director, Ontario Brand, The Kidney Foundation of Canada
“We had an outstanding experience with the Empowered team. From the outset, they demonstrated a commitment to understanding our unique needs and goals. They facilitated a comprehensive community survey, delving into the intricacies of our organization and gathering insightful data. This meticulous groundwork laid the foundation for a tailored action plan that would not only meet our current requirements but also position us strategically for the future.
Empowered’s data and benchmarking process showcased their depth of industry knowledge and allowed us to gain valuable insights into best practices and emerging trends. Their ability to analyze market dynamics and identify opportunities for improvement was instrumental in shaping our approach to EDI integration. The highlight of our collaboration with Empowered EDI was the creation of a highly actionable strategy that proved instrumental in achieving our 50-30 Challenge goals.
Throughout the consulting process, they consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, professionalism, and clear communication. Their team's collaborative approach fostered a positive working relationship, making the complex world of EDI more accessible and manageable for our organization.
I wholeheartedly recommend Empowered to any organization seeking top-notch consulting services in EDI strategy and implementation. Their expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to client success make them a standout choice and invaluable strategic partner.”