At Brilliant Ink, we’re proud to be a WBENC-certified woman-owned business. As we reflect on Women’s History Month, we thought we’d take moment to celebrate women we admire that are leading the charge in employee experience.

Whether it’s through their work in internal communications, human resources, or diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), here are 10 agencies and consultancies from around the world you should be keeping an eye on: 

1. All Things IC‍

Woman-owned internal communications agency

‍Based in the UK, All Things IC is led by the undisputed (at least in our eyes) leading lady of internal communications, Rachel Miller. Through a mix of training, consultancy, and mentoring, Rachel and her team help internal communicators increase their skills, knowledge and confidence so they can thrive in their role.

What do we love most about All Things IC? It’s a toss-up between the prolific blog (boasting 5,000+ articles) and the Candid Comms podcast – and both are well worth your time! You’ll want to bookmark the All Things IC website because you’ll come back again and again (and again).

2. Awaken

BIPOC woman- and LGBTQ-led diversity, equity and inclusion training  

Leading the way at Awaken is Michelle Mijung Kim, a queer immigrant Korean American writer, speaker, activist and entrepreneur. At the heart of Awaken’s work is the desire to create a compassionate space for uncomfortable conversations that help develop inclusive leaders and teams. How? Through interactive workshops that enable people to address tough diversity, inclusion, leadership, and culture questions head-on (this work is not for the faint of heart).

What do we love most about Awaken? We’ve been following Awaken’s thought-provoking thought leadership for years but Michelle Mijung’s book, The Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change, is a game changer. The Brilliant Ink team read this as part of our employee-led bookclub!

3. Brilliant Ink

Woman-owned internal communications agency

We’d be remiss if we didn’t name ourselves right?! ;) Brilliant Ink is the foremost expert on employee experiences – we partner with the best companies in the world to assess, design, measure and create brilliant employee experiences. We believe every employee deserves a meaningful experience at work– including our own – and our fearless CEO Ann Melinger leads by example.

What do we love most about Brilliant Ink? Where to start?! Our people and culture make us unlike any agency we’ve ever known – but our blog and resource area bottle up our brilliance to help communicators and HR pros kick ass at work and make their workplaces even better.

4. DSF Consulting

BIPOC woman-owned diversity, equity and inclusion consultancy

Led by the inimitable Dorianne St Fleur, DSF Consulting provides workshops and strategic programming to companies who want to move the needle in tangible ways. Her team helps employers rethink their DEI initiatives and apply a systematic approach to becoming a D.R.E.A.M. employer.

What do we love most about DSF Consulting? Aside from calling DSF Consulting Brilliant Ink’s trusted DEI partner, Dorianne has packaged up her wisdom as a career coach and DEI consultant into a book. Deeper Than Work is designed to help women of color go from survivor to thriver in the corporate world.

5. Inspire Human Resources

Woman-owned human resources consultancy

Jaime Klein is the warm voice and heart behind Inspire Human Resources. She leads a curated team of HR experts that help companies navigate the changing world of work through interim leadership, HR assessment and strategy, and training and coaching to upskill teams, engage employees and elevate leaders.

What do we love most about Inspire HR? Inspire’s blog is a treasure trove of content but we especially love the Redesigning the Future of Work series of panels with leading HR, DEI and employee experience leaders. From talent shortages to building diverse leadership teams to hybrid workplaces, no stone is left unturned!

6. Jennifer Brown Consulting

Woman- and LGBTQ-owned leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firm

Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC) works to create cultures of belonging where everyone can thrive and is led by the titular Jennifer Brown, an award-winning entrepreneur, D&I consultant, speaker and author. The JBC team has a global presence and partners with clients at all stages of their DEI journey.

What do we love most about JBC? The DEI Community Calls! Held monthly on select Thursdays, the call introduces thought leaders and change makers shaping the industry – while also hosting one of the liveliest chats you’ll ever experience with DEI practitioners from around the world. 

7. The Rise Journey

Woman-owned diversity, equity, inclusion and human resources consulting firm

Co-founded by Jessica Lambrecht, Jes Osrow and Jhamile Scott, The Rise Journey partners with organizations to create positive change for employees and leaders. With a mission-driven, people-centered and impact-focused approach, The Rise Journey supports diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility (DEIBA) initiatives.

What do we love most about The Rise Journey? Alongside its client offerings, The Rise Journey also supports an impressive array of educational experiences spanning workshops, lunch and learns, and cultural experiences. The Brilliant Ink team has been lucky enough to experience a lunch and learn through The Rise Journey – and we'd do it again!

8. Vision2Voice Communications

Woman-owned internal communications agency

Canada-based Vision2Voice Communications is founded and led by Andrea Greenhous, a certified change management practitioner, author and speaker. As an internal communication agency focused on business outcomes, this team helps leaders communicate and connect with employees in meaningful ways (with strategies backed by neuro- and behavioral science).

What do we love most about Vision2Voice? Andrea and her team are the true embodiment of staying curious. She’s always on the lookout for the latest research, programs and innovations in internal communications, and shares them generously on her blog, helping us all get smarter!

9. Whiteness At work

BIPOC woman-led diversity, equity and inclusion training

Drawing from decades of experience as racial equity practitioners, Desiree Adaway, Ericka Hines and Jessica Fish created Whiteness at Work. This training program is designed to equip organizations with the skills necessary to go beyond diversity and implicit bias work and get to the root: white supremacy, racism, institutional inequities, and power dynamics. 

What do we love most about Whiteness at Work? Members of our team were floored by the webinars on “Organizational Reckonings” and “TransformingCultures of Nice” – but the online training program is PACKED with instruction, debrief guides and resource packets to dive even deeper and is a worthy investment.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!

We also have so much love and respect for woman-led communities that are bringing people together and tackling issues and opportunities big and small. Here are 4 you should explore and consider plugging into:

1. A Leader Like Me

BIPOC women-led community for underrepresented womxn‍

What happens when two titans join forces from across the pond? BIG things! A Leader Like Me is the brainchild of Priya Bates, founder of the Canada-based Inner Strength Communication, and Advita Patel, director of CommsRebel in the UK. This 12-week program and monthly subscription service is on a mission to help underrepresented women and non-binary people of color progress in their career.

What do we love most about A Leader Like Me? Aside from hosting an underrepresented speaker list, A Leader Like Me sponsors two global online conferences: Diversity in PR and Diversity in Action. We’ve had the honor of sponsoring two conferences and the diversity of attendees, speakers, and brilliance is inspiring.

2. ALI Conferences

Woman-owned conference organization

For over 20 years, Lisa McClear and ALI Conferences have been creating events to connect internal communications and HR pros and share proven solutions for a wide range of business challenges. More than just a conference, ALI is a community where people from different industries can learn from each other in an interactive environment.

What do we love most about ALI Conferences? Hands down, we love that ALI is large enough to attract big name organizations, yet small enough to make meaningful connections with the speakers and attendees alike. As an added plus, they organize a variety of in-person and virtual events year-round!

3. CHIEF

Woman-led professional network

Chief is a private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders (our CEO Ann is a member!). Founders Carolyn Childers and Lindsay Kaplan are on a mission to drive more women to the top and keep them there through mentoring, learning opportunities and an active social network to help women leaders learn, grow and tackle challenges together.

What do we love most about Chief? The centerpiece of Chief’s membership model is the Core Group: a small group of senior women facilitated by an executive coach. These intimate learning circles are designed to give female leaders, often alone at the top of their organizations, their own board of advisors.  

4. ICOlogy

Woman-led internal communications community

ICology is a community built by internal communicators, for internal communicators. Founded by Chuck Gose and led by Kristin Hancock, ICology is not like other networks. It's a cool network (their Mean Girls reference, not mine). Members receive access to a community packed with creativity, connection, curiosity and confidence to help you grow your craft and further your career.

What do we love most about ICology? From workshops like Toolsday to a mentorship program to engaging events, ICology is dead set on delivering value to members and is constantly experimenting with fresh program formats. So fetch.

AND THAT’S IT (FOR NOW!)

To the women behind these agencies, consultancies and communities: damn you’re good! Your care, character and commitment to people is elevating what it means to create experiences where every employee can feel heard and valued.

Thanks for inspiring our team and our industry to be better and do better. Be sure to follow each of them on social media and subscribe to their newsletters and blogs to keep up with the latest and greatest.

And while you’re at it, if you aren’t already, be sure to subscribe to our monthly employee experience newsletter, the Inkwell, and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest!