HELPING ORGANIZATIONS INCREASE ENGAGEMENT, INNOVATION, AND PERFORMANCE

ALUM MARIA VELASCO, MA, USES COACHING COMPANY, INITIATIVES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE

When Maria Velasco, MA, (Organizational Development, ’16 and ‘17) completed her bachelor’s degree, her dream was to continue her education and earn her master’s.

Originally from Salamanca, Spain, she moved to the United States after her undergraduate studies. After several conversations with institutions about credits requirements and other hang-ups, Maria didn’t think her dream would ever become a reality.

“I was so discouraged, so disappointed,” she said. “Finally, I had the circumstances, and I had the courage to act upon this important dream, and I realized that I couldn’t achieve it.”

That led her to Fielding, where she obtained more information and eventually enrolled, earning both a certificate and MA in Organizational Development. Her thesis centered on “Resistance to Diversity and Inclusion Change Initiatives: Strategies for Transformational Leaders.”

“I was so delighted when I received a phone call,” Maria said. “I remember perfectly where I was in my house, and I received this phone call that I had made it into the program, and it was one of those moments in life, on a hero’s journey, when I saw my way forward to my dream.”

Maria now realizes her purpose and is the Founder and CEO of Beyond Inclusion Group, a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion firm committed to helping organizations increase engagement, innovation, and performance by empowering leaders to build inclusive and equitable cultures where everyone thrives and belongs.

Beyond Inclusion Group offers holistic workplace culture transformation services that aim to achieve this vision.

“From my personal experience of being an immigrant, I knew what it meant to have barriers to professional advancement,” Maria said. “I believe I have a vision of a world that is just and fair. Everyone should have the same opportunities, regardless of age, sex, orientation, race, or gender. We really aim to achieve this vision by partnering with companies that are ready to transform their workplace cultures into inclusive places. We help our clients first identify and then dismantle those inequitable practices in the organizations that are getting in the way to inclusion.”

In a moment of serendipity, Maria met her fiancé, Fielding alum Christopher Sansone, PhD (Human and Organizational Systems, ‘99), as she was achieving her long-standing goals. Dr. Sansone was the person who originally encouraged her to apply to Fielding.

“The impression he had on me was motivation for me to check out Fielding and find like-minded people,” she said. “I found a community. I have always felt different, and I think we all feel that at times. But, finding this community that resonates at the same frequency and has a similar worldview and mindset was really important to me.”

In November 2022, Maria presented “The DEI Revolution: Discover Your Organization’s Path to Workplace Inclusion” during Fielding’s Professional Development Virtual Symposium.

Learn more about Maria and her work at www.beyondinclusiongroup.com.