The Almond Group

When I first met with Monica and her team, we set out several clear goals for our work together, including helping us with our hiring processes to be more demographically diverse, creating an organizational DEI statement and preparing a style guide or lexicon that will guide all of our communications in culturally sensitive and appropriate ways. As a staff of fairly progressive and socially-aware individuals, The Almond Group was still able to refine and tailor their trainings, exercises and concepts to make us keenly aware of the structural/systemic problems we are confronting, as well as our own individual, often hidden biases.

I highly recommend Monica for her skills and expertise in strategic consulting on diversity, equity, and inclusion. I have known Monica professionally and personally for several years through our membership and leadership within Women in Government Relations (WGR). It should go without saying that Monica is a remarkable, approachable human being who truly understands the meaning and importance of DEI. She uses her expertise to not only address (diplomatically) current events but also seeks opportunities to help create a culture of inclusion for the future.

As a retired corporate executive, who spent decades in the Governmental Affairs industry in Washington, I pride myself on recognizing talented leaders—people who have the intellect and the soul to make a difference. A lot of people say they want to do great things…but watch what people do and that is where you’ll see a leader who is making a difference. That is where you will find Monica.

Dr. Monica Almond is an invaluable resource for individuals and companies seeking to enhance and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion awareness and policies. By acknowledging and sharing vulnerabilities, Monica creates space for open, thoughtful dialogue. Her empathy encourages others to engage in challenging conversations, while identifying strategies and tactics to effect lasting change. Further, Monica invests in knowing her clients and audiences to adapt her approach. This process builds trust and leaves a lasting impact on those with whom she engages.

I met Monica when she raised her hand to volunteer in creating a diversity and inclusion committee for our organization. It was her inclusive and thoughtful nature that first caught our attention but her leadership, passion and ability to motivate and inspire a team that made her time in the WGR leadership one of the most transformative. Monica served as the inaugural chair for what is now the DEI Committee – an initiative that has had a huge impact on the growth, sustainability and relevancy of our organization. With a clear end goal in mind Monica developed a plan, collected data, constructed a team, deconstructed old systems to build them back stronger and forever changed the direction of WGR and our mission to create generations of powerful women advocates. Three years later WGR is at the forefront of these discussions as a thought leader and change maker. Monica was our visionary, strategist and change-maker.

I first met Dr. Monica Almond through a professional women’s organization and learned about her work to establish a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The DEI Committee programming is some of the best I’ve encountered and I have seen Dr. Almond work tirelessly to create both the momentum and the space for honest conversations about these critical topics. Her work has made a difference in how I see and understand our world, which is truly a gift.