Deb Dagit is a sought-after consultant and speaker on the topics of diversity and inclusion. She started Deb Dagit Diversity LLC in 2013 to deliver the practical, just-in-time services and products she wished were available when she was a Chief Diversity Officer.

As Merck’s VP and CDO for almost 12 years, Deb was responsible for global equal opportunity, employee relations, recruiting and staffing, and diversity and inclusion. Under her leadership, the company was recognized for its exemplary work in diversity and inclusion by a wide range of business publications, government agencies, and professional organizations. Prior to joining Merck, Deb was the leader of Learning, Communications and Diversity at Silicon Graphics and Sun Microsystems.

She played a role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act through her lobbying efforts, and testified before the U.S. Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee in 2011 regarding best practices for improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Achievements

  • Organizations who Deb has worked with have been recognized by Diverityinc Top 50, HRC Corporate Equality Index 100 Score, Department of Defense Freedom Award for Veterans, Department of Labor New Freedom Award for People with Disabilities, Working Mother Top 100 20+ years, National Association for Female Executives Top 30, Hispanic Asociation for Corporate Responsibility, Black Enterprise magazine, and many others. Personal awards include YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry, National Council for HR leaders, St Thomas Workplace Forum on Inclusion Winds of Change Award, Out and Equal Trailblazer award, and cover of Diversity Executive and SHRM magazines. Served on boards of Gay Lesbian Straight Educatin Network, Families and Work Institute, and U.S. Business Leadership Network for people with disabilities.

Who I’ve Worked With

  • 100+ Forutne 500, governmental and NGO's

Services

  • Consultant

What I Offer

  • Deb draws on her 20+ years of professional experience and her lifelong personal experience as a person with a disability to help organizations develop and maintain business cultures where diversity is prized and inclusion is the norm. Includes consulting, project support, ERG/BRG strategies and playbook, reasonable accommodations process, creating or refreshing global D&I strategy, and speaking.