My journey to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace

Tanisha standing with colleagues at an event booth representing Boehringer Ingelheim. — *Tanisha with Boehringer Ingelheim colleagues*

“I believe that together we will not only thrive as a diverse organization, but we can make the world a better place because of it,” our employee, Tanisha Archer-Parkes, shared in celebration of Black History Month and to emphasize the importance of continuing to move toward a more inclusive and accepting society.

She serves as an associate director of customer care for our Animal Health business and is doing a rotation with the Diversity, Inclusion, Culture, and Equity (DICE) team. The 12-month rotation allows employees in other areas of our family-owned company to collaborate with DICE leadership to build a unified voice and advance our culture of belonging.

Archer-Parkes is currently contributing to our diversity, equity, and inclusion governance strategy, which outlines efforts to maintain a sustainable environment and empower our employees to grow and be their authentic selves.

Throughout her rotation, Archer-Parkes also reflects on our workplace and credits our progress to influential people, like Martin Luther King Jr., who paved the way for organizations and leaders today.

Our work culture is “woven into the fabric of our history and daily work ... Unity and collaboration are essential keys in building a successful team,” she said. Here are a few other ways that Dr. King’s movement for greater equity and freedoms shaped the work she’s done throughout her career:

Inspiration
As a Caribbean national, she’s inspired by how much can be achieved by one individual who chose to make a difference in the face of much adversity and resistance.

Growth
Her drive and passion have always been to seize opportunities, excel above roadblocks, and create similar avenues of success for others.

Leadership
She’s embodied a spirit of persistence and grew in her career as a people leader managing teams and mentoring future leaders across North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Archer-Parkes encourages her teams to accept each other, have shared experiences, and gain a mutual understanding of one another.

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