Meet Erin-Kate Escobar: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Consultant and Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin-Kate Escobar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin-Kate, how did you come up with the idea for your business?

I have created my own small minority, queer & nonbinary run business based on the combination of my personal experience, holding multiple intersecting marginalized identities, and the need I saw in the business community for the work I do.  Having worked in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space for over a decade, I wanted to work with people who were seeking support in these areas. I watched a lot of recent graduates from college recruited to work for companies that wanted women and people of color but didn’t really know how to build an environment that would foster their well-being once they got there. After seeing so many people go into jobs that wanted them but didn’t know how to value and support them, I wanted to support organizations looking for guidance and support as they embark on the journey of cultivating practices that are more inclusive, equitable, and eventually, that may mean even more diverse. Today, I offer diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting services, including education, coaching, and strategic planning for organizations and businesses looking to make holistic and sustainable DEI advances.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting is all about supporting people and the organizations they work within to address structural inequities and build a more inclusive culture. If we aren’t actively thinking about and trying to solve for — who is not here, who is not represented, and why — we are most likely perpetuating inequities. There are many ways to build in practices that help everyone play a role in building inclusive cultures, identifying inequities, and making the ongoing shifts and changes needed.  The fact is that DEI work is all you care to take on – I want to work with people who support organizations and businesses who want to take on one piece at a time that will add up to big shifts and changes.

At the end of the day, I want people to know that DEI is a journey, not a destination. Supporting people, companies, and cultures through understanding why things are the way they are in today’s DEI landscape and helping them make sense of the day-to-day experiences is at the core of making change.

DEI is stronger when done through collaborative partnerships — both between DEI practitioners across different demographic identities and expertise areas and between practitioners and client employees as they share their experiences to complement practitioners’ best practice frameworks. And that is what I do with my consulting work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love a good walk with a vista! So you’ll find me headed up the hill in Griffith or along the backbone trails of Angeles Crest. My go-to places are beaches, mountains, or a walk in the neighborhood!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have two brilliant friends who both really inspired and supported me to take the leap! Emily Roh of My Invisible Knapsack focuses on Anti-Racism Coaching and Facilitation services. Bryant Galindo of CollabsHQ is dedicated to simplifying business negotiations & disagreements through conflict resolution and clarity.

Website: www.erinkateescobar.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinkateescobar/

Image Credits
Lillian Voong