Boston, MA, December 5, 2023 – The Boston Club is thrilled to announce the two winners of the 2023 Women in Business Racial Equity Awards. Su Joun, Principal at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group, is the recipient of its 2023 Women in Business Racial Equity Award. Djena Jacques, Director of Shared Services, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, is the recipient of the 2023 Women in Business Racial Equity Ally Award. Ms. Joun and Ms. Jacques accepted their awards at The Boston Club’s 2023 Corporate Salute | Passion, Purpose, Breaking Barriers, held on Dec 5, 2023 at PwC, 101 Seaport A Boulevard, Boston MA.
The 2023 Women in Business Racial Equity Awards were created by The Boston Club to annually recognize: 1) A woman of color who founds, owns, or leads an organization that is committed to the advancement of women into leadership positions, and 2) A leader in the business community who demonstrates a commitment to the development of all women and people of color through access to jobs, mentorship, and community support.
The winner of the 2023 Woman in Business Racial Equity Award winner, Su Joun, is the Principal of Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group LLC which works with organizations to diversify their workforce and create inclusive, equitable work environments through consultation and training. She is passionate and driven about creating equity and access to education and career opportunities and has provided DEI consultation and training to hundreds of organizations in academia, biotech, financial, tech and nonprofit.
"Women of color are often left out of initiatives and conversations around advancement of women in career and business,” said Ms. Joun, “so it is an especially meaningful and special honor to get the 2023 Women in Business Racial Equity award from The Boston Club! I am incredibly grateful to work on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in organizations with my fantastic colleagues at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group."
Ms. Joun’s thought leadership and fresh perspectives on DEI combined with practical approaches have been showcased in the Skillsoft video library, in the BBJ, Urban Update and other venues. Her thought-provoking insights are in demand and have been delivered to various audiences such as the Greater Boston Chamber, NAAAP, CFO Roundtable, HUBweek, Color Magazine and to numerous conferences and organizations.
She has taught Global Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, and CareerLaunch at Suffolk University and has presented to various audiences such as the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, CFO Roundtable, UMASS Center for Collaborative Leadership, NEHRA, HubWeek, General Assembly, Skillsoft Conference, and the Boston Bar Association.
Under the leadership of Djena Jacques, Mass Bay United Way’s Shared Services has developed an innovative approach to equip early childhood educators with the tools and resources they need to develop and sustain strong businesses that provide high quality early education and care to the children. The overarching goal of Shared Services MA is to stabilize and grow the Family Child Care industry in Massachusetts and build the wealth and business success of family child care business owner/educators with a focus on Black and Latina women.
2023 Woman in Business Racial Equity Ally Award winner, Djena Jacques, Director, Family Childcare Service MA, said “This award ignites another level of desire in me to continue to equip women in communities with the tools to sustain and flourish as small business owners. It is refreshing and encouraging to see family childcare educators being recognized as small business owners. This award shines a light on the incredible work that they do each day giving children and families the start that every child deserves."
During her tenure, a groundbreaking model has been piloted that focuses on strengthening business practices, sharing resources and information, consolidating buying power, and providing a platform for collaboration to enhance the quality of family childcare programs. The model was created to address the closing of nearly one-third of family childcare programs during the pandemic. To date, 25 educators have graduated from the program. Twenty have opened childcare businesses in their homes. And over the next few years, another 45 additional businesses are expected to open in as a result of the licensing program, creating new, culturally aware childcare spaces for up to 300 new children and families.
The Boston Club’s Board Chair Lisa Prior says, “We are pleased that the 2023 Women in Business Racial Equity Awards have gone to such committed leaders, dedicated as advocates and allies to women and people of color in businesses and communities across our region and beyond. Su Joun and Djena Jacques are impactful leaders, creating new paradigms for business practices and regional childcare in our community.” They are changing the landscape of professional opportunity in the business community across Greater Boston and beyond.
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About United Way of Massachusetts Bay
United Way of Massachusetts Bay exists to build more equitable communities, together. With over 85 years of local impact in eastern Massachusetts, we work with and for our communities to build economic prosperity and enable everyone–across races and ethnicities–to share in the knowledge, wealth and resources available. We believe that the key to unlocking opportunity is uniting people, and we bring together individuals, community leaders, corporate partners, legislators and organizations to build a powerful engine of change. Visit www.unitedwaymassbay.org for more information.
Media Contact:
Brigid Boyd, Chief of Public Affairs, United Way of Massachusetts Bay , bboyd@supportunitedway.org , 339.236.1161