Being one of just three brown kids in high school and not feeling like he entirely belonged had a profound impact on Ashish Kaushal, setting him on a path to found HireTalent, a contingent staffing firm focused on diversity staffing, as well as Consciously Unbiased, a grassroots movement and organization focused on educating and dismantling racism and discrimination from in the workplace. His mission: to connect the hearts and the minds of people across organizations and industries to spark behavior change and drive inclusion.

“Diversity gives you a different perspective on life altogether; I want to make sure everyone has access to equal opportunities,” he says.

Because every company is different and varies in size, mission and approach, Kaushal believes a single strategy can never work in the fight against inequality — which is why it is imperative for enterprises to create unique action plans across all sectors to turn a moment into a lasting movement.

"Diversity gives you a different perspective on life altogether; I want to make sure everyone has access to equal opportunities."

“It’s all about investing in the system, not just financially, but by creating the right kind of environment for everyone to thrive,” he explains. Bias training alone is insufficient to help people overcome the deep-seated socialization that has perpetuated racism and inequality. Through Consciously Unbiased he strives to help people and organizations increase their diversity footprint through experiential workshops, external events, talent and podcasts like “Breaking The Bias,” where candid conversations take place with culture changers, equality champions, and industry disruptors to get real-world advice on how should one should build belonging.

As a human being and a staffing industry professional, Kaushal’s inherent goal has always been to leave a room better than he found it.

2023 DE&I Influencers List