We would like to thank everyone who attended, supported, or contributed to an incredible gathering of inclusive leaders at GlobalMindED this past week. It was such a pleasure, honor, and inspiration to gather in person; students and leaders from across the nation learning from each other, sharing passion and ideas, coming away empowered and encouraged by the transformative changes that are taking place, fueled to continue with new alliances and new ideas. Over the coming weeks, we will share stories from the conference.

Today we are pleased to introduce Dr. Paula Hopkins, who spoke on Employer-Led Innovation in Action.
Dr. Paula Hopkins - PepsiCo's Empathetic Leader Empowering Women and the World


Dr. Hopkins, what is your SuperPower? How are you using this to support PepsiCo’s growth in their Racial Equality Journey?

Professionally, my SuperPower is Empathetic Leadership. I work hard to make sure that I seek first to understand the needs of others. Being aware of their feelings and thoughts is key to building trust, commitment, and engagement. Maya Angelou said it best, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Working at PepsiCo for almost thirty years has allowed me to be involved in and lead many instrumental diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. My efforts have helped create a more equitable and inclusive culture, assisting a generation of professionals in excelling in their careers. I am proud of the achievements and progress we are making in our Racial Equality Journey, but we have so much more to do. As the world changes around us, it’s now more important than ever to stand up for issues that matter to people.

I am afforded the opportunity to support some of the issues I am passionate about by serving on boards internally and externally. I currently sit on the PepsiCo Beverages National Taskforce for the Racial Equality Journey with 18 other senior leaders. In addition to the PepsiCo Beverages National Racial Equity Action Team, I support Warrick Dunn Charities, Inc., Urban League of Louisiana, National Forum Black Public Administrators, Best Buddies, Miami Beach Chamber, and the 2020 Miami Super Bowl Host Committee.


Your dissertation was on “Impact and Influence: The Effect of Mentorship on Job Advancement among Executive Women.” What trends and challenges did you see regarding executive women?

My dissertation was about ‘lived experiences,’ my research study examined the impact and influence of the different types of mentoring (formal and informal) among executive women. I examined the role of mentorship on job advancement among executive women.

What happens with many women is that we are told that to get promoted we must work harder and be smarter. However, when that does not happen, you quickly realize that having a mentor who cares about your development, provides critical feedback, and creates opportunities for job advancements, is really what matters. It’s so important to have someone that is a trusted advisor or mentor to talk to, share their experiences and give you direct, unfiltered feedback.

One challenge that I saw was the lack of role models. My research study showed that role models are an incredibly effective way to encourage women to make choices. There is no doubt that the power of visualization is strong. If women aren’t represented at the higher levels of an organization, it becomes difficult for others to identify themselves as capable of a seat at that table.

There are so many strengths and leadership attributes that women bring to the table. One of the main things women bring to the table is empowerment. I believe that when you empower women, you empower the world. When companies commit to equality for all, two critical components are pay equity and equal representation at all leadership levels.  Committing to pay equity and gender parity are essential to achieving a more inclusive and equitable workplace, giving greater importance to strong role models around the globe.

Continuous effort to ensure equity for all is recognizing, "How do you become the leader you can’t see?" For this to happen, it requires a commitment on behalf of senior leadership to not only hire diverse employees but also engage, train, mentor, and sponsor them to take on future leadership roles.

Early in my career, I did not have any women role models. Being the only one has its drawbacks and advantages. The advantage is that you become a role model, you create space for other diverse employees, and you set the stage for people who look like you. The disadvantage is being the first one has added emotional tax—the tax of being the best—the emotional tax of always being on guard. For me, the emotional tax was all worth it, as my mission was even if I was the first, I had the opportunity to make sure I was not the last.


Why are mentors so important?

As an African-American woman in the corporate workplace - I recognize and appreciate, as is the case for many others that are at the top of their field - I am where I am because I had mentors that cared enough to support, develop and sponsor me.

With the growing number of diverse employees entering the workforce, there is an expanded requirement for senior mentors of women and ethnic minorities to inspire these workers. Figuring out how to advance, recruit, motivate, and retain women who are today’s and tomorrow’s leaders is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing.


What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a woman in your space? What advice would you give to future Inclusive Inspirational Leaders?

Build relationships both internally and externally (community). Surround yourself with people who support you and foster your growth. Also, seek out support and mentorship. Personally, my progress came with many challenges, but I made sure I was always resilient, authentic, and invested in many years in higher education while delivering results. Despite my academic credentials and vast work experience, I still leaned on my mentors.

Finally, it is knowing that you are ENOUGH and BELIEVING in yourself. Being your authentic self breeds confidence. Maya Angelou said it best, “Success is liking yourself. Liking what you do and liking how you do.

Social Media Links Linkedin: (1) Dr. Paula Hopkins | LinkedIn

Be sure to stay tuned in the weeks to come, as we will be sharing more inspiring stories, like that of Dr. Paula Hopkins, from people who attended the 2022 GlobalMindED Conference.
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WATCH RECENT HEALTH, K-12, HIGHER ED AND STEM EVENTS
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Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager Pharma Solutions, IFF, American Academy for the Advancement of Science IF/THEN She Can STEM Ambassador leads the conversation with Dr. Nathanial Brown; Professor of Math, Penn State University, Dr. Tamara Floyd Smith; Associate Provost, Tuskegee University and Professor of Chemical Engineering, Errika Moore; Executive Director, STEM Funders Network, and Kyra Welch; Psychology Student, Bethune Cookman University
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Carol Carter, CEO GlobalMindED leads the conversation with Dr. Anna Landau; Clinical Assistant Professor, Banner-University Medical Center, Dr. Timian Godfrey; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, Dr. Tarnia Newton; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, and Dr. Lisa Kiser; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona.
Watch Celebrating Outstanding K-12 Female Educators

Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the conversation with Yomika Bennett; Executive Director, New York Charter Schools Association, Dr. Plashan McCune CEO; Higher Learning LLC, Jade Tinner; Founder, One Unified Resource Foundation, and Madison Hays; Math Teacher, Madrid, Spain; Editor, GlobalMindED
Watch Taking the Cape Off: Getting Real with Women CEOs

Dr. Ryan Ross Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion Colorado Community College System leads the conversation with Janet Salazar President, Foundation for the Support of the UN, Dr. Angie Paccione Executive Director, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Simone D. Ross CEO, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami CEO, Founder, Cell-Ed, and Karen Ashworth-Macfarlane Co-Founder and CEO, Digame Spirits PBC
Watch Building the Talent Pipeline: Girls and Women in STEM

Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager Pharma Solutions, IFF and AAAS If/Then she/can STEM Ambassador leads the conversation with Danisha Allen; Senior Program Manager, VIZIO, Vitoria Moreno-Costa; Process Safety Management Engineer IFF Health & Biosciences, Claire Meaders; Assistant Teaching Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology University of California San Diego and AAAS If/Then she/can STEM Ambassador, and Samyukta Iyer Senior, Wheeler High School Center for Advanced Studies
Watch Building the Talent Pipeline; Black Students In STEM
Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions IFF and AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador leads the conversation with Jason Raines; PD designer, STEM expert, Dr. Janne Hall; Adjunct Professor, Texas Southern University, Kwesi A. Vincent; STEM Educator, The Workshop School, and Sokhna Wane; Senior Computer Science Student, The Pennsylvania State University Building the Talent Pipeline; Black Students In STEM
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Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Michael Logan; Instructor, The Fortune Society, Dr. Makini Beck; Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology, Dr. Rita Carol Gaither; Educational Consultant and Founder, Pearl Resources, and Dr. Brent Mitchell; Executive Vice President, The Sonny Walker Group
Watch Black History Month: Relevance, Reality, and Celebration; Perspectives from Those Doing the Work

Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity & Inclusion, with Dr. Vern L. Howard; Chairman Dr. MLK Jr Colorado Holiday Commission, Kimberly Grayson; Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, and Omar Montgomery; Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District
Watch "Energizing, Invigorating, and Supporting K-12 STEM Students"
Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School and Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF & AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador lead the discussion with Dr. Dana C. Giles; Principal, Pebblebrook High School, Jason Coleman;
Co-Founder/Executive Director, Project SYNCERE, Pastor Lyndrell Randle; STEM teacher, Green Tech Middle School, and Jennifer Makins; Director of STEM Education, Parish Episcopal School
Join our monthly equity events in STEM, Higher Education, K-12 Education, Health, and Board Diversity. See past sessions below.
Watch "Various Pathways to Get to a STEM Career"
Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System - an educator, speaker, and actualization coach and Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF & AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador - passionate about helping schools and organizations introduce STEM to children with Dr. Siobahn Day Grady; North Carolina A&T - advocates for more women and minorities in computer science, Toi Massey; Founder & CEO ANM Innovative Solutions - Her Speak series includes Success on Purpose and Think Like a Girl, Eric Knapp; DeKalb County Schools - brings classrooms, communities and corporations together, and Jason Pugh; Gensler, President of the National Organization of Minority Architects - passion for helping underserved communities.
Watch "Native American Education"

Ron Lessard, Executive Director for the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, this year's Inclusive Leader Award winner, Julian Guerrero Jr.; enrolled citizen of the Comanche Nation, Director of the Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education, and Dr. Donna Sabis-Burns, Ph.D.; Mohawk, Supervisory Education Program Specialist, Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education join discussion lead by Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO Green Tech High Charter School
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Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the discussion with Dr. Cheryl Crazy Bull; President and CEO, American Indian College Fund, Jameson D. Lopez; Asst. Professor, Educational Policy Studies and Practice, University of Arizona, and Jasmine Neosh; Undergraduate Researcher, College of the Menominee Nation, Sustainable Development Institute
Watch "Building Allies for Diversity in STEM"

Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF & AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador leads the discussion with Dr. Helen Tran; Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Dr. Indara Suarez; Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Boston University, Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler; Director, Accessible Technology & DO-IT, University of Washington, and Anthony Newton; MSFT Alumni, Entrepreneur, Owner, Ancott
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Daryle Whyte; District Sales Manager, Amazon Web Services Startups at AWS leads the discussion with Sheldon Gilbert; Founder & CEO, Proclivity, Harini Gokul; Customer Success Leader (Global Cloud Strategy & Digital Transformation, Amazon Web Services, and Carol Carter; Founder & CEO, GlobalMindED
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Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Keith L. Brown; Lead Consultant/Speaker, 2020 Enterprises and The I’m Possible Institute, SaJade Miller; Superintendent, Rocketship Public Schools, Texas, Olus R. Holder, Jr.; Executive Pastor, Fallbrook Church, and Erika Twani; CEO & Co-Founder, Learning One to One
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Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the conversation with Omar Montgomery; Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District, Regan Byrd; Founder and Principal Consultant, Regan Byrd Consulting LLC, and Dr. Dedrick Sims; CEO, Sims-Fayola Foundation
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Health Equity Session - Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global
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Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University, Mr. Aaron Cortes; Director, STEM initiatives, Center for College Access and Success, Northeastern Illinois Univ., Mr. Randy Blanco; Engineering senior, Penn State University, student officer SHPE, and Dr. Minerva Cordero; Senior Assoc. Dean, Research & Grad. Affairs, University of Texas at Arlington
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K-12 Equity Session - Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO,
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