about us
integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion into every aspect of your business strategy
we are an equity, diversity, and inclusion consultancy... that's a bit different
our vision
At em·paó·er, we believe businesses hold immense power, shaping what we see and interact with every day. Our vision is to harness this power to create positive, systemic social change that benefits not only employees but also communities and industries at large.
our mission
We empower business leaders to build equity, diversity, and inclusion into the DNA of their organisations, moving beyond the traditional HR-led approach. Instead, we focus on how holistic EDI strategies can create positive short and long-term change through a combination of structured and bespoke solutions.
our flagship employee
network programme
Employee networks contribute to employee experience, employer branding, and company culture. The people who run them do so as volunteers with limited resources, and generally come from under-represented and under-served backgrounds.
Our programme gives back to these remarkable individuals, providing tangible resources and leadership development designed to create strong leaders and, in turn, effective and sustainable employee networks.
This programme is suitable for any organisation with active employee networks, and we can work with you to tailor it to your needs.
our other services
We offer a range of bespoke services designed to support business leaders who want to improve their approach to, or understanding of, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our team partners with you to understand your unique circumstances and can recommend both sweeping strategic shifts and targeted programmatic solutions, depending on your needs. Want to know more? Let’s chat.
meet our team
Ceysa McKechnie
pronouns: she/her
Ceysa is pronounced “say-sha”
ceo & founder
Ceysa believes that businesses hold the power to create systemic social change, and her work focuses on leveraging that power to drive meaningful progress across industries. Through both consultancy and fractional work, Ceysa helps organisations move beyond a traditional HR-led approach to EDI, integrating these values into every aspect of their operations. She also serves as a non-executive director at Studio Lutalica, a non-profit design agency support women and LGBTQIA+ founds and organisations.
Previously, Ceysa led Amazon UK’s EDI strategy and chaired Glamazon, Amazon’s LGBTQIA+ network, gaining recognition in key indices like the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. Em·paó·er’s flagship employee network leadership programme stems directly from Ceysa’s experiences working with and developing employee networks for many years.
Ceysa holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and an EDI certification from Cornell University.
“I know what it’s like to sit on both sides of the employee network experience – as a chair on a board, and as an EDI leader who knows networks are an important part of their strategy. I launched em·paó·er’s leadership development programme to help bridge the gap that too often exists between the amazing work employee networks achieve and the organisations that rely on them to drive inclusion forward. Not only does our program help to give back to network leads by offering tangible leadership and professional development training, it also ensures networks have the structure and resources they need to have real impact.”
Susi Bauer
pronouns: she/her or they/them
employee network empowerment specialist
Susi joins em·paó·er with a diverse skillset in project management, EDI, and training design, honed through experience in the video games industry and tech. As a volunteer leader of a grassroots Employee Resource Group in a large organization, Susi gained firsthand experience in the challenges and rewards of network leadership. Susi understands the importance of empowering network leaders and is passionate about providing them with the support and resources they need to thrive.
“As someone whose journey into leadership began as the volunteer lead of a grassroots Employee EDI Network in a large organisation, I am thrilled to work on em·paó·er – when I took on my network role, I would have loved tailored training, tools, and a supportive community of people who face similar challenges. I am looking forward to meeting and supporting current and future leaders who try to make the workplace better, kinder and more inclusive. I bring my neurodivergent perspective & my core values of kindness, fairness, and growth through curiosity and creativity into all I do.”
Adeola Daramola
pronouns: she/her
employee network empowerment specialist
Adeola brings over a decade of experience in event management, training, and EDI to em·paó·er. Previously, she led successful DEI initiatives at WisdomTree, fostering positive change and inclusion within the organization. Adeola served as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council Leader and Chair of the Women’s Initiative Network at WisdomTree, demonstrating her strong leadership skills within employee networks. She is a champion for underrepresented groups and is dedicated to creating workplaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
“My experiences as a Black woman in the workplace fueled my passion for EDI. Em·paó·er empowers network leaders to drive meaningful change, and I’m excited to collaborate with this team to create truly inclusive workplaces.”
Brian McCaffrey
pronouns: he/him
employee network empowerment specialist
Brian is a trainer, facilitator and Event MC with a long history of leading and volunteering for Employee Networks. At Google Ireland, Brian founded and led Men Practicing Allyship in partnership with Women@Google Ireland. At over 500 members, the group provided training, workshops and networking for men looking to learn more about making a more equitable workplace.
“As a network founder, I understand the difficulty of trying to articulate and “sell” your idea and then having to recruit volunteers and leadership teams. I’ve also seen the results of perseverance and the very real impact that employee networks can have across companies. It’s worth it, folks, and we are here to help!”
Reema Vadoliya
pronouns: she/her
we’ve asked Reema to tell us more…
