Guest speaker describes 'Elevating Access' coaching and mentoring work; committee invited to discuss priorities in June

Dr. Haley Haywood told the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women about her work under the banner of an Elevating Access program, describing coaching, consulting and community events aimed at expanding equitable career pathways for women and femmes.

“People of historically excluded backgrounds are experiencing disproportionate financial, emotional and physical abuse in the workplace,” Dr. Haywood said, explaining her focus on organizational change, leadership development and individual coaching to support what she called “soul filling work.” She described free community programming she runs, including a “soul filling career summit” and a monthly virtual gathering for women and femmes of color.

Why it matters: committee members are planning mentorship and career-support efforts for the coming year; Haywood’s approach and program tools align with the committee’s interest in mentorship pipelines and community-centered events.

Haywood summarized her work’s components: data-informed program design (surveys, focus groups), a mix of skills training and mindset work, facilitator training, and community convenings to build connections and sustain mentorship. She encouraged proactive, rather than reactive, organizational planning: “In an ideal world, it would be proactive,” she said when asked whether clients are typically looking for retention strategies or crisis response.

Committee chair staff invited Haywood to attend the committee’s June planning meeting so members can consider priorities and explore collaboration. Patricia Lafore invited Haywood to join the June meeting and asked Haywood to share any written materials for circulation: “If you do decide to join us for our June meeting, you’d like to contribute or like us to consider in terms of priorities, we would be all ears,” Lafore said.

Discussion v. direction v. decision: the presentation was informational; no committee vote was taken. The committee extended an invitation to Haywood to participate in the June planning session as a potential contributor to mentorship and workforce-priority discussions.

Ending: Haywood said she will follow up with materials; the committee will include her input in June when it finalizes year-ahead themes and potential collaboration on mentorship programs.