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The Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks

2021 GDEIB Expert Panellists

Sondra Thiederman

Sondra Thiederman is a consultant, trainer, and speaker in bias reduction, cross-cultural business, and diversity & inclusion. Recipient of a doctorate from UCLA in Cross-Cultural Studies, she began her career helping health care providers deliver more effective care to patients and clients of all backgrounds. From that foundation, she branched out to work with corporations in electronics, manufacturing, and health care.  

Her work has taken her into the offices and training rooms of organizations such as Boeing, Motorola, General Motors, Xerox Corporation, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Marriott Corporation, the Mayo Clinic, Century 21 Real Estate, American Express, and AT&T. She was also exposed to the inner workings of notable associations including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the American Society of Association Executives, and the Arthritis Foundation. She has also consulted for the University of California and has served on the Diversity Cabinet of the American Red Cross.  

In recent years, her emphasis has been on practical techniques for identifying and defeating unconscious bias which she feels strongly lies at the root of most diversity/inclusion challenges. Rather than focus on one type of difference such as race, sexual orientation or ethnicity, her services focus on specific skills that can diffuse bias as they pertain to any group.

She has authored numerous articles, books, and videos designed to provide the practical tools for which she has become known. Her books include: “Bridging Cultural Barriers for Corporate Success: How to Manage the Multicultural Workforce,” “Profiting in America’s Multicultural Marketplace; How to Do Business Across Cultural Lines”, “Getting Culture Smart: Ten Strategies for Making Diversity Work,” “Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace,” “The Diversity and Inclusion Handbook” and “Three Keys for Defeating Unconscious Bias: Watch, Think, Act.”  Her videos include: Defeating Unconscious Bias: Five Strategies; Gateways to Inclusion: Turning Tense Moments into Productive Conversations; and Is it Bias? Making Diversity Work.

Contact information:
E-mail: stphd@thiederman.com
Website: www.thiederman.com
Phone: +1 619-583-4478 or +1 619-992-3766
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sondrathiederman

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