Vernā Myers (/vərˈneɪ/)[1] is an American diversity consultant ,[2] author, speaker, lawyer, and corporate executive.[3][4]She is also the founder and CEO of the Vernā Myers Company[5][6][7] and was the inaugural Vice President of Inclusion at Netflix (2018-2023). At Netflix, she helped implement strategies for diversity, inclusion, and representation throughout the company.[3] Myers gave a TED talk in 2014 called "How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them." She is also the author of two books published by the American Bar Association: Moving Diversity Forward - How To Go From Well-Meaning To Well-Doing and What If I Say The Wrong Thing: 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People.[4]
In 1992, Myers was appointed the first executive director of the Boston Law Firm Group (now the Boston Lawyers Group), a consortium of firms and corporate legal departments.[12] She also served as deputy chief of staff for the Attorney General of Massachusetts.[13] Vernā practiced corporate and real estate law in Boston at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP[14] and Fitch, Wiley, Richlin & Tourse, LLP.[15] Myers founded The Vernā Myers Company, where she serves as its CEO.[7][5][6][16]
In 2014, Myers spoke on the subject of "unconscious bias" in her TED talk, "How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them," which she gave at a TEDx event in Boston on November 15.[17][18] She has also given talks on unconscious bias and other DEI-related topics to organizations such as Cleveland Metropolitan Bar, NASA, and the Massachusetts Women's Conference.[19]
Myers has been interviewed by television news networks such as WCVB News,[20]MPR News,[21] and CNN.[22] Myers also created the OPUS Conference, a conference centered on race and ethnicity forlarge law firms and corporations.[10] She also authored two books, Moving Diversity Forward: How to Go From Well-Meaning to Well-Doing, and What If I Say the Wrong Thing?: 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People.[4]
In 2018, Vernā filled the inaugural role as VP, Inclusion Strategy at Netflix[23][3] She has developed the overall culture at Netflix, including inclusion frameworks for casting and production crew hiring on programs such as Bridgerton.[24]
In 2021, Myers and Arianna Huffington joined to provide a training courses on LinkedIn Learning on the subject of confronting biases.[25] The course was ranked the most popular course on the platform in 2021.[25]
Her quote "Diversity is being invited to the party, Inclusion is being asked to dance" has been widely cited and referenced by individuals, the press, and various organizations such as OMD, SHRM, and the Academy of Eating Disorders.[27][28]
Harvard Business Publishing partnered with Myers to create an Introduction to Diversity video widely used throughout US Court systems.[30] Myers served as a featured instructor in the Dynamic Teaming section of the Harvard Business School Online course of their Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB) program.[31]
Myers also teaches diversity, equity, and inclusion courses through The Vernā Myers Company.[32][33]
Select public speaking engagements
2013, Keynote at Law Day, for The Monroe County Bar Association, Rochester Black Bar Association and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys[34]
2022, panelist at Variety's Changemakers Summit[41]
2023, Keynote at National Recreation and Parks Association[32][42]
2024, commencement speaker at Santa Clara Law School[26]
Bibliography
Myers, Vernā (2011). Moving diversity forward : how to go from well-meaning to well-doing. Chicago, Ill.: ABA Center for Racial & Ethnic Diversity. ISBN978-1-61438-006-1. OCLC741103722.
Myers, Vernā (2013). What if I say the wrong thing? : 25 habits for culturally effective people. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association. ISBN978-1-61438-971-2. OCLC850909552.
Awards and recognition
2009, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Named as “Diversity Hero”[43]
2010, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Award for Diversity Champion[32]
2014, College of Law Practice Management, Elected as a Fellow[44]
2021, CODE Crew, Award for DEI Person of the Year
2021, Diversity Woman, Award for Top 100 Black Women Executives[45]
2024, Women’s Business Collaborative, Trailblazer in Gender Equity & Diversity Award[46]
References
^"Introduction to this course". Fair and Effective Interviewing for Diversity and Inclusion. LinkedIn. November 19, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
