“When we help one individual, there’s a whole community that is also impacted,” says Hetal Parikh, whose personal goal is help make meaningful employment available to everyone, including people with disabilities and autism.
As president and co-founder of the minority- and disability-owned firm Rangam, she aims to promote workplace inclusivity and foster an environment where “everyone can feel that they are supported every step of the way and have the proper resources to nurture their career path.”
Since co-founding Rangam in 1995 with her husband and fellow DE&I Influencer, CEO Nish Parikh, she has been committed to empowering and supporting women in the workforce, as is evident from 70% of Rangam’s internal staff, from leadership to operational roles, being women. She also mentors young women entrepreneurs, encourages women to pursue STEM careers and is passionate about helping veterans transition into the civilian workforce.
While knowledge is power, she believes sharing it is even more empowering. Thus, Parikh participates on various boards and organizations, encouraging her peers to think within the DE&I arena and striving to standardize and implement best practices that would increase access to all stages of employment. She also shares and highlights Rangam’s successful work in DE&I in various national and global conferences.
“I’m fully invested and committed to be part of some of these global roundtables to help drive initiatives where they can create some best practices and replicate what we have been doing at the national level,” she says.
It’s this influence that Parikh cites as one of her greatest accomplishments.
“We have a lot of work to do to create a level playing field for underrepresented, diverse talent. We want them to know that they won’t be misunderstood in the workplace and that they will have the opportunity to pursue a career of their dreams and live a life that they deserve,” Parikh says.
2023 DE&I Influencers List