Karen is a HR director leading Amazon’s Global Welcome Door Program. Originally established to provide support to Refugees, the team now champion the employment experience of under-represented communities. Prior to this, Karen established Amazon’s European Community Operations team. In this role, she supported their operational response to the invasion of Ukraine, helping transport more than two million essential items to key charity partners. For the last three years, Karen has also acted as Executive Sponsor to Amazon’s Black Employee Network (BEN) in UK Ops. In these roles, Karen has been a passionate advocate for refugees and ethnic minority people.

Introduction and Background

I have over 20 years experience working in Human Resources, and during that time I’ve made it a priority to promote equity within my teams. I considered myself to be a fairly effective ally, calling out bias when I saw it and serving as a mentor to help build more equality into processes and initiatives. However, the murder of George Floyd in the United States was a profound wake-up call for me. It made me realise I was not nearly as equipped as I thought to truly understand the experiences of our Black associates and provide them the best support. This was a humbling moment that inspired me to embark on a deeper personal learning journey.

At the same time, I joined Amazon’s Black Employee Network as an ally and when I returned to the UK, transferred to the UK Operations Chapter (BEN Ops UK). Shortly after, it was a privilege to be asked to be the Executive Sponsor for the group. Since joining, I’ve passionately championed BEN’s work. I’m constantly inspired by the innovation, positivity and tenacity that the group brings to driving meaningful change.

On a personal level, as a mother of two sons, I’m deeply motivated to help create a fairer and more equitable world for the next generation. It’s that desire to build a better future that continues to fuel my commitment to DEI efforts in my professional life.

Challenges and Milestones

Early in my DEI journey, I was full of good intentions but didn’t always have the deep experience and knowledge needed to be effective. I would sometimes jump to what I thought were the right solutions, without taking enough time to truly understand the problems from the perspective of the people directly impacted.

Over time, I’ve found ways to stay better connected and informed, whether through reading, attending conferences, learning from my day job and role as an Executive Sponsor. I still approach my work with a sense of humility, knowing it’s an ongoing journey of learning and growth.

I also learned that having the right people championing this work can make a big difference in removing barriers and building inherent ownership for long-term change.

One of my proudest personal milestones was being asked to become an Executive Sponsor for BEN Ops UK at Amazon. It signalled  that the group trusted me to be a strong ally. I’m so grateful that in this role, I’ve been able to help drive positive change, act as a mentor to members, and continue my personal development as an ally.

Key Initiatives and Impact

Through my role in Community Operations, I had the opportunity to help support Amazon’s operational response to the invasion of Ukraine. This work helped provide more than 2 million aid items, such as medical supplies and critical relief products. This experience gave me a much deeper understanding of the challenges and experiences faced by refugees. It inspired me to take on a new challenge, building the Welcome Door team, initially focused on exploring challenges refugees may face in the workplace. One of our key achievements was driving Amazon’s US and EU refugee hiring commitments of 5K each, a number which has already been exceeded in the US.

Beyond hiring, we recognised language accessibility is a building block for many employee experiences. In response, the team has developed and embedded translation technology into operational devices. This helps facilitate thousands of conversations in different languages, improving the ability of multi-lingual employees to communicate and thrive.

Personal Growth and Learning

My journey in the DEI field has contributed significantly to both my personal and professional growth. I’ve made lifelong friends who have challenged my biases and helped me see things from new perspectives. This has sometimes been an uncomfortable journey but ultimately, has better equipped me to build and help drive inclusive solutions.

Some of the key lessons I’ve learned include:

• Acknowledging the privilege I hold, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• As an ally, I don’t know everything. Education is such an important part of the journey. Own it and don’t expect others to do the work for you.
• Remembering it’s the group I am supporting whose voice needs to be heard, not my version of it.
• Allyship can be uncomfortable. Get used to it, as shying away from it often avoids the root cause being explored, and more meaningful change occurring.
• Data speaks. Find ways to show how the work you are doing truly makes your business better.

Future Vision and Goals

As an Executive Sponsor, my ultimate aspiration is for this role to become unnecessary—a future where the same doors open equally for everyone. Whilst we work towards this, I plan to continue as a sponsor, mentor, and working in roles that help drive positive change.

Advice for Aspiring DEI Advocates

Deeply understanding the experiences and challenges faced by minority groups is key to driving meaningful change. Take the time to truly listen and learn, rather than making assumptions. Bring diverse voices directly into the change dialogue, instead of speaking for them.

Securing senior sponsorship, and ensuring diverse representation in leadership teams is crucial for accelerating DEI work. Access to decision-makers and business support enables sustainable change. I’ve also found that embedding equity into existing processes, rather than creating separate programmes, can help avoid stigma and drive fair, transparent experiences for all.

Above all, persistence and a solutions-oriented mindset help.. Change isn’t always easy, but with the right approach and steadfast commitment, meaningful progress is possible.

Learn More: https://www.ethnicityawards.com/top-10-champions-allies-2024/