February is Black History Month in the U.S.!
Creating an inclusive environment, celebrating our differences, and recognizing our achievements are critical to building a great place to work, and that’s why we’ve been celebrating all month long and sharing our favorite quotes from African-American leaders on social media.
Enjoy these profiles of talented Protiviti leaders showcasing their career success, words of wisdom and inspiration, and what Black History Month means to them.
Meet Shelley!
Managing Director, Risk & Compliance, Metro D.C.
Shelley joined Protiviti two years ago, bringing with her more than 25 years of financial services and consulting experience. After completing her MBA at the University of Michigan, she started her career on Wall Street in banking and consulting.
At Protiviti, Shelley focuses on regulatory compliance, financial services, healthcare, and energy and utilities. She loves what she does and cites her work as one of her biggest passions in life, in addition to traveling around the world and spending time with her husband and children.
Shelley talked to us about how she stays inspired throughout her career, what historical figure she’d most like to meet, and more!
You’ve had such a successful career. What inspires you? “Serving others and inspiring people towards the full expression of their gifts and talents – personally and professionally.”
As you reflect on Black History Month, which we’ve been celebrating all month, why do you think it’s essential to recognize black history? “Black history is America’s History. As with all history, it’s important because it helps us understand how society came to be. It allows us to make sense of the current world and understand what we need to change in order to enhance it and create the society we wish to live in. ”
If you had the opportunity to meet any person from black history, who would it be and why? “Maya Angelou, because she was deeply wise. I would love to spend time discussing her perspectives on where we’ve been (as a society), where we’re going, and how to be your best throughout the journey. I also love her poem ‘Still I Rise’.”
How do we benefit from a diverse and inclusive workplace? “Diversity and inclusion allow us to optimize varied learnings, experiences, and perspectives as we work together to make decisions that lead to success in an ever-changing environment. ”
Meet Tricia!
Associate Director, Internal Audit, New York
After spending most of her career handling audit planning and risk assessment in the banking industry, Tricia joined Protiviti five years ago. Here, she focuses primarily on strategic and key accounts within the Financial Services Industry and partners with senior management to solve client problems.
In addition to her day-to-day work, Tricia has also taken on special projects at the firm, including assisting with the annual auditing planning process and providing support on regulatory and issue validation processes.
Tricia shared with us the quotes and inspiration that keep her motivated, and her thoughts on diversity in organizations.
Can you share your favorite quote? “It’s a Carlton Fisk quote: “It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.” I like this quote because many times achievements are celebrated and it’s an awesome feeling, but behind the achievement there’s sometimes so much more depth in the story. The journey is important in order to understand the struggles and obstacles one had to endure to actually get that achievement.”
What inspires you? “My three children are by far my biggest inspiration. I have a teenager, a pre-teen, and a “wannabe teen.” Every day when I wake up, my goal is to create a life that exposes them to everything life has to offer – and to dream the biggest dreams and reach for the furthest stars! I’m inspired by their daily milestones and the opportunity to raise these children to help make something meaningful of their lives.”
If you had the opportunity to meet any person from black history, who would it be and why? “I would have loved to meet Bob Marley before his death. Bob Marley is credited with popularizing reggae music around the world and served as a symbol of Jamaican culture and identity.”
How do we benefit from a diverse and inclusive workplace? “By working alongside people of different backgrounds, experiences, and working styles, creative concepts can be born from bouncing ideas off of each other and offering feedback and suggestions.”
Meet Eric!
Director, Business Process Improvement, Dallas
Eric has been with Protiviti almost since its beginning, having joined the firm more than 15 years ago. When he started, he was in Internal Audit, but shifted his focus to consulting in 2007. He focuses primarily on healthcare and manufacturing clients, but he’s worked with a diverse client portfolio throughout his career, including financial services, transportation, education, and energy.
Outside of the office, Eric enjoys traveling, cooking, working out, and spending time with his family and friends. He’s a history and art buff who often gets left behind at museums by his wife and their daughter “while I read about every exhibit.”
Eric discussed how travel has influenced him, why it’s important for organizations to focus on diversity and inclusion, and more!
What inspires you? “Travel. I’m fortunate to have traveled throughout the U.S. and internationally. As a result, I’ve grown to appreciate different cultures, traditions, and cuisines, and what I have experienced has influenced my own lifestyle. I still have a long list of places that I’d like to visit and revisit.”
If you had the opportunity to meet any person from black history, who would it be and why? “Garrett Morgan, an inventor who, among other products, contributed to the development and improvement of the traffic signal after witnessing an accident. I’ve always had an appreciation for his ingenuity and creativity under the circumstances (this was during the 1920s), and his ability to contribute to a product that is still used worldwide.“
There are still many achievements and contributions made by persons of African descent that are not widely recognized, unless they are famous. I’m guessing not too many people know about Garrett Morgan. Or Hiram Revels, who became the first African-American U.S. senator in the 1870s.“
Can you share your favorite quote? “‘Life is too short to be unhappy,’ and the author is unknown. It’s a reminder to try to spend your time with people, possessions, and experiences that you enjoy and try to eliminate negativity. “
Ho do we benefit from a diverse and inclusive workplace? “I appreciate having a diverse and inclusive workplace because we learn from each other’s life experiences and cultural differences. Throughout my career, I have been able to work with colleagues from many different backgrounds (race, religion, nationality, etc.). I’ve learned a lot about different business and social customs, religious practices, and arts and entertainment that I may not have been exposed to otherwise. I think we also learn to be more tolerant and appreciate the things that make us unique when we work together.”
Meet Domonique!
Associate Director, IT Audit, Atlanta
Domonique has been at Protiviti for 7.5 years and is focused on IT audit and IT SOX. A self-described continuous learner, she has started to research new tools and innovative solutions that will support audit, including Robotics Process Automation (RPA), MindBridge Ai, and Celonis. “I’ve enjoyed learning and teaching our teams about these tools to support the next generation of internal audit,” she says.
When she’s not working, you can find Domonique on the soccer field or the basketball court coaching her son’s games.
We chatted with Domonique about how she makes room to grow in her career, and why it’s essential to recognize Black History Month.
If you had the opportunity to meet any person from black history, who would it be and why? “I would go 100% fan-girl if I met Michelle Obama. She is intelligent, maintains grace amidst a swarm of negativity, and works to maintain a semblance of balance in being a supportive wife, mother, and professional – a challenge I can relate to!”
What inspires you? “I am inspired by the strive towards continuous improvement – improvement of myself, my teams, and my clients. There is always room to grow, learn, and evolve. It takes being self-aware and keeping your eyes and ears open for opportunities.”
As you reflect on Black History Month, which we’ve been celebrating all month, why do you think it’s essential to recognize black history? “Black history is American history. The combination of cultures makes this country what it is. We should all be proud of the contributions of our various cultures and celebrate them.”
How do we benefit from a diverse and inclusive workplace? “Diversity comes in many forms. Diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and ideas increases our success as a company. Conveying inclusiveness is important to making sure ideas that may not seem mainstream are accepted and appreciated, because they help drive us towards better teaming and innovation.”
Thank you to Shelley, Tricia, Domonique, and Eric for sharing your stories!
I like the fact that company take the time to highlight these employees during Black History month. Reading the background information on these family that was chosen, this family really deserve this recognition. I must say I was not surprised when you gave Tricia Sattar the spotlight with her family. She is a phenomenal woman. She is a star from the day she was born and I know she does an excellent job where ever she goes. She is a true asset to your company. She does impeccable work.
We are glad you enjoyed, Michelle!