Suzanne Cardwell, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at CarMax, is driving courageous conversations with top leadership and engaging the entire organization in Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Under her leadership, the CarMax D&I Interaction Model and the Associate Inclusion Groups were initiated. She established required quarterly D&I training, a dedicated D&I intranet site, and multiple workforce engagement and educational opportunities. Suzanne leverages data to understand employee sentiment and sense of belonging and developed D&I oversight so that top leaders are in charge of driving outcomes.
Using cultural competency, communication and collaboration skills, Suzanne built a holistic strategy. She established a clear vision and strategy for D&I, engaged people from top to bottom, and regularly provides training on topics like empathy, allyship, diverse abilities, and intentional connections. Suzanne built a strong partnership with the Employer Brand and Talent Acquisition teams to ensure recruiting and retention practices incorporate D&I. She uses associate surveys and feedback data to determine necessary actions and communicates regularly through company-wide videos sharing progress. Suzanne believes the comprehensive and collaborative approach to D&I is the only way to ensure progress.
Favorite Quote: Live a life filled with respect for others and gratitude for everything, and you will find that the world opens up to you in ways you never thought possible. - Suzanne Cardwell