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Speaker

Bernadette Pieters-Harilal

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer; People & Culture Principal
BDO

EXPERIENCE

As the firm's Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and People & Culture Principal, Bernadette oversees and helps drive forward the firm's DEI strategy, spearheading key programs to create impact, foster change and continue to build a sustainably inclusive culture. Additionally, she leads BDO's people and culture talent acquisition field teams nationwide with the goal of leveraging the firm's culture and values to enhance the employee experience.

Bernadette has more than 25 years of human resources experience in both public accounting and private industry. Since joining BDO in 1999, she has collaborated with leaders across the firm to provide guidance on strategic firm priorities, change management, organizational development, talent acquisition, conflict resolution, investigations, coaching and development, employee retention strategies, succession planning, performance management, employee relations, and more.

Throughout her tenure with the firm, she has been actively engaged in ensuring DEI is an integral part of the firm's operations and culture, including through her previous role as the firm's national director of diversity. She is a recognized Diversity Journal thought leader, a catalyst of the firm's participation in diversity associations and conferences, and the firm's core values ambassador.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Society of Human Resources Management

EDUCATION

B.A., Psychology & Sociology, South America

Certificate in Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations, South America