About diversity lab

Who we are & what we do

We are a team of talent experts, data scientists, and behavioral science scholars, including several former practicing lawyers, who architect and innovate processes, practices, and structures that ignite collective movements of systemic change across the legal profession (and beyond) to create more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplaces.

We rely on our collaborators — law firms and legal departments — who aren’t afraid of the hard work and imperfections that accompany experiments and measurement of outcomes. Together, we innovate with impact to create and sustain long-term change. Structural issues require structural solutions that persist and thrive despite marketplace challenges, leadership changes, and other headwinds.

‘lab’ is literally In our name

Whatever we call ourselves — an idea incubator, an experiment builder, an innovation machine — one thing is clear: We are a one-of-a-kind laboratory that cultivates more inclusive and equitable workplaces in law and beyond. Through collaboration with 450+ top law firms and corporate counsel across the country, we leverage data and behavioral science to further develop and test the ideas, measure the results, iterate, and share the lessons learned. Our impact is proven.

Why the primary focus on law? Lawyers play an outsized leadership role in the world. They often rise to rule governments, boardrooms, courtrooms, sports commissions, media, and more.

A photo collage features three images: one with hands flipping through index cards, a second with people having fun on a presentation stage, and a third with a man speaking into a microphone

THE POWER OF HACKATHONS

Our pitch competitions are among our most vibrant product incubators, generating innovative ideas and solutions to boost the retention and advancement of women in the legal sphere, and tackling the industry’s toughest diversity and inclusion challenges.

MEET OUR TEAM

Our dedicated team demonstrates perseverance and grit daily along with a deep passion and enthusiasm for our mission, work, and clients. After all, we know change is hard, so we infuse everything we do with a dose of fun and pinch of humor.

Lisa Kirby

President, Inclusive Talent Systems

Apryl Mathes

President of Growth, Operations & Impact

Joe Rejano

Vice President of Innovation & AI

Kavita Ramakrishnan

Mansfield Rule & Knowledge Sharing Senior Director

Alyssa Jarvis

Director of Mansfield & Strategic Innovations

Sajani Granquist

Mansfield Rule & Knowledge Sharing Manager

Courtney Munnings

Mansfield Rule & Knowledge Sharing Manager

Valerie Portillo

Director of Legal Department & Law Firm Integration

Amber Carter

Director of Inclusion Innovations

Hannah Dillman Murnane

Head of Project Management & Outcomes

Vianna Fagel

Director of Data Management, Analytics & Reporting

Amber Boydstun

Chief Data Scientist

Lei Otsuka

Data Analytics Specialist

Jennifer Cook Johnson

Senior Director of Operations & Talent Development

Aurelia Spivey

Head of Community & Engagement

Rebecca Aronauer

Communications & Engagement Manager

Toni Wells

Ontrack Sponsorship Lead Coach

Laura Maechtlen

Senior Business & Policy Advisor

Vance Alan Graves

Administrative Coordinator

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Our team at Diversity Lab is guided and advised by some of the leading minds in law who care deeply about cultivating a diverse, inclusive and equitable legal profession.

Jim Chosy

Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel, U.S. Bancorp

Tonya Robinson

Vice Chair and General Counsel – Legal, Regulatory and Compliance, KPMG (US)

Brad Wine

Partner, MoFo Litigation Chair, & 1st Place Team at 2018 Diversity in Law Hackathon, Morrison Foerster

Camilo Echavarria

Chair of the Executive Committee & Los Angeles Partner-in-Charge, Davis Wright Tremaine

Deneen Donnley

Senior Vice President and General Counsel, ConEdison, Inc.

Farrah Pepper

Chief Legal Innovation Counsel, Marsh McLennan

Hedieh Fakhriyazdi

Chief Diversity Officer, White & Case LLP

Hilary Ware

Head of Privacy, Apple

Jami McKeon

Chair of the Firm, Morgan Lewis

Joyce Smith

Partner, International Commercial and IP Tech, Member of Executive Committee, Baker McKenzie

Kareem Dale

Director and Senior Counsel, Discover Financial Services

Lia Dorsey

Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Ogletree Deakins

Rishi Varma

Chief Legal and Ethics and Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, Cargill

Robyn Diaz

SVP and Chief Legal Officer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Tyree P. Jones, Jr.

Labor & Employment Chair, ESG Chair & Executive Committee, Reed Smith

Connect with us

Contact us if you are a law firm or legal department leader who is willing to invest in systemic change to diversify your workplace.

Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with latest happenings at the Lab.