The daughter of Indian immigrants, Asfa Malik works tirelessly to bring diversity, equity and inclusion into everything she does. As the founder and CEO of GrowthMinded Consulting, Malik helps company leaders build a strong foundation of inclusion and enhances existing or replaces leadership development programs.

Malik’s work in DE&I was born when she led global learning and development during 15 of her 25 years serving over 5,000 employees worldwide at market research firm IRI.

For Malik, diversity is at the core of inclusion and arises from the little things that make a difference in an individual’s life. “Some people learn by listening, others by doing. The goal is to ensure that even the smallest of things, such as making sure everyone has the right food, is overseen. Not everyone eats pork or meat,” she says. “To create an environment that is inclusive, we have to make sure that even the smallest gestures are inclusive because if you have inclusion, diversity and equity will follow.”

"I feel our Indian voices are still muted. Being able to be on a podcast with a brown face, voice and perspective drives me to ensure change. I want our voices to be heard and faces seen."

Outside her workplace, Malik mentors through programs such as Chicago Innovation – Women’s Mentoring Co-Op to guide women and people of color. She has been featured in Chief Learning Officer magazine and has contributed to several others, including Training Industry and Work Human.

Malik was also a speaker on Tech Serve Alliance’s Break the Bias webinar on International Women’s Day 2022. “I feel our Indian voices are still muted. Being able to be on a podcast with a brown face, brown voice and brown perspective drives me to ensure change. I want our voices to be heard and faces seen,” she says.

Malik’s ultimate goal is to continue working on creating a world where there is a sense of belonging. “We need to hear everybody out — with a mind that is thoughtful and heart willing to listen.”

2023 DE&I Influencers List