About Us
We’re on a mission to make organizations more equitable.
That’s because we believe equity is critical to advancing and sustaining diversity & inclusion.
Our Story
Empowered was founded in 2017 to help businesses bring about meaningful, substantive change in the way they approach and realize equity in the workplace.
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After working on the inside of large enterprises for more than a decade, Empowered founder and CEO Michelle Grocholsky realized that when it came to issues of equity, diversity and inclusion, there was a universal lack of focus among employers on driving meaningful systems change.
Put simply, there was too much lip service to the issues and too little accountability. This meant that despite the best of intentions, organizations were spectacularly failing in their ability to move the dial.
Today and every day, Empowered’s team works hand in hand with our clients to understand the root causes of inequity and bias, facilitate honest conversations without blame or shame, develop impactful EDI strategic roadmaps, and to build inclusive, equitable people practices.
By giving businesses the tools and know-how to run and operate more fairly and inclusively, Empowered helps unlock an organization’s full potential for equality, all while creating safe spaces where employees feel welcomed without bias or judgment, are heard and valued, and can professionally and personally thrive.
Empowered is proud to be a Certified B-Corp, meeting the highest standards for social and environmental impact.
Our Values
We are committed to practicing what we promote in all aspects of our business and how we work with clients. We do that by consistently living our values:
We Before Me
We create an inclusive environment where people can be themselves and feel that they belong.
No Status Quo
We disrupt and reinvent systems of oppression, refusing to settle for the way things have traditionally been.
Make it Happen
We take initiative to turn ideas and insights into actions and actions into impact.
Do the Right Thing
We uphold the truth, even when it’s difficult.
Principal
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CEO + FOUNDER
Michelle’s life and work are driven by the philosophy that we must lift as we rise.
An award-winning equity strategist with global distinctions in the areas of innovation in engagement and inclusion, Michelle has devoted her life’s work to understanding and addressing the root causes of bias and discrimination across our workplaces. As Empowered’s CEO, she is responsible for building the company’s global equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) brand and for realizing Empowered’s vision to make organizations more equitable by improving the way people decisions are made and human resources practices operate. Michelle believes that when organizations move beyond talk and symbolic gestures to build a systemic, strategic approach to EDI, they can build workplaces and cultures where all people can prosper and thrive.
Michelle is a much-sought speaker on topics related to equity, diversity and inclusion and is regularly engaged by universities, professional associations and employers the word-over for her thought-provoking perspectives on EDI. Her EDI work has been recognized with a Catalyst Canada Award, a European Diversity Award for Team of the Year, the Engage Award for Voice of the Employee and a Best Companies Award for Innovation in Engagement.
She holds a Masters of Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of Waterloo and is currently working in collaboration with Brock University on a research initiative to validate Empowered’s EDI measurement scale.
As the loving mom of two littles, Michelle is determined to build a better and more accepting world for future generations. Her favourite read is ‘Biased’ by Jennifer L. Eberhardt.
Specialists
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With expertise in social policy, health equity, and diversity and inclusion, Hollie is an evaluator and researcher with 10+ years of experience in leading large-scale, intersectoral research and evaluation projects aimed at supporting evidence-based, informed decision making. Through the identification of quality measures, targets, and long-term outcomes that demonstrate real change, her work bridges knowledge to action by surfacing evidence that supports an organization’s ability to reach its strategic goals and priorities.
An educational background in psychology and culture and human development has provided Hollie the opportunity to work closely with diverse populations, particularly First Nations and Métis communities in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. Hollie has created evaluation and performance measurement frameworks for First Nations and Métis Health Services at the Saskatoon Health Region, Diversity Councils in Saskatoon and Nova Scotia, and led health disparities research that has informed the development of health equity strategies across Canada.
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Brooke Graham is a DEI strategist & facilitator who aims to transform workplaces, her passion drives her impactful DEI leadership and dynamic training sessions. Brooke currently leads DEI at LifeLabs, a nationwide organization with over 6,500 employees, scaling programs for all levels of team members. Brooke's expertise & care extends widely from her work with Indigenous communities to global financial firms, demonstrating her commitment to fostering change and equity in every and any space.
Brooke's collaborative and empathetic approach leads to what she believes is the underpinning of DEI: authentic & accountable relationships. She believes in the power of community and with this, she strives to communicate the work of DEI through values alignment and inclusive strategies to lead businesses on the path towards their vision & purpose.
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Christi has over 15 years of experience as an advanced interdisciplinary researcher in human rights and international development law, political science, ethics, and socio-political philosophy. Her core thematic interests have included social justice, poverty, oppression, marginalisation, rights, structural injustice, and intersectionality. Christi has presented her scholarship internationally, most recently in Tokyo, Japan.
During her PhD, Christi was a core member of a research team on global ethics and social change headed by the ‘Tier I’ Canada Research Chair in Ethics and Global Social Change at the University of Guelph.
Christi has had the great privilege of serving as a human rights trainer in Ecuador, where she supported projects that represented and advanced the interests of indigenous women and children in crisis, and other marginalized and vulnerable groups in indigenous communities. She also worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration in Ecuador.
Christi is fluent in three languages: Spanish; English; and German.
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Honoka is an EDI advocate driven to foster an inclusive environment for folks to (un)learn and grow. With a multicultural background being raised in Tokyo, New York, and Toronto, she values any opportunity to integrate communication, collaboration, and empathy. Honoka has an educational background in Communication, Culture, Information and Technology and Professional Writing from the University of Toronto, as she believes in the power of education and mentorship. She is committed to connecting with her local communities as a DEI Committee member at the ArQuives in Toronto and DEI+ Program Manager at BobaTalks, a youth mentorship nonprofit organization.
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Joyce Barlow is an accomplished disability management and accessibility professional. She has 20 years’ experience working with persons with disabilities. As a clinical Occupational Therapist, she has treated individuals in acute care, outpatient care, and in the community. She has overseen countless home and workplace renovations for individuals sustaining traumatic injuries and supported them in their return to independence, including their careers. She leverages her knowledge of disability in supporting employers in developing employment accommodation policies and procedures aligned with disability rights legislation. She balances accommodations with a focus on accessibility, helping organizations build strategic plans with accessibility in mind and creating a culture of inclusion through Universal Design principles.
Her work spans multiple sectors including manufacturing, financial institutions, high tech, government, and post-secondary institutions. She is a frequent guest lecturer for various undergraduate courses at the University of Waterloo, including Recreation and Leisure Studies, Engineering, Planning, and Philosophy. She is currently the co-chair of the Council for Ontario Universities’ AODA Co-ordinators Subgroup, and a member of Accessibility Standards Canada’s model standard for the built environment – accessibility technical committee.
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Meet Justin Wiggins, a seasoned Chief of Staff and executive coach with over a decade of expertise, specializing in cultivating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and promoting inclusive leadership. Justin's distinctive coaching approach has proven successful in guiding founders, C-suite executives, and senior leaders through challenges, establishing a secure and non-judgmental space for individual development. Leveraging coaching frameworks such as the GROW model, co-active coaching, and solution-focused coaching, Justin empowers clients with heightened situational awareness and equips them with the tools to take decisive action. Possessing a global perspective and adeptness in navigating cross-cultural challenges, Justin's coaching fosters transformative team breakthroughs, enhancing cohesion and productivity.
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As an accomplished Human Resources leader, Natalie has earned the reputation as a strong strategic partner, skillful executive coach, effective facilitator and trusted advisor. She has effectively led senior leaders, executive teams and business groups through transformational change, strategy development and execution. A constant and trustworthy professional that can be counted on for operational excellence.
To empower leaders to reach their full potential, Natalie engages a holistic approach to her delivery. With 19 years in Human Resources and as a leader of individuals and teams, Natalie understands the concerns that leaders and businesses face and knows what it takes for them to be successful — personally and professionally. Examples include identifying personal blindspots, inclusive leadership, diverse talent acquisition and retention, team engagement and transformational change.
With an MBA from Schulich School of Business, Natalie focused on International Strategic Management and Organizational Behaviour. Her professional coaching certification was obtained through The Coaches Training Institute and the International Coach Federation.
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Val brings 25 years of professional experience including leadership positions at a billion-dollar corporation in the role of CHRO. She spent the first two decades of her career in the HR function for various organizations in industries such as pharmaceuticals, engineering, real estate development and manufacturing. Since 2014, Val has focused exclusively on facilitation and coaching, She currently delivers high impact programs and coaching for clients in Europe, APAC, Canada and the United States. Her facilitation and coaching work extend across a variety of industries including professional services, financial services, high tech, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Val combines her understanding of business and leading people with neuroscience, and strength coaching methodologies.
A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Valerie holds a BA from McGill University, an MIA from the University IX Paris Dauphine and an MBA from Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM), along with ICF-PCC accreditation and certifications in a number of psychometric assessments and in neuroscience.
She is Fully trilingual in French, English and Spanish.
BENEFITS OF EMPOWERED
We give you the strategic roadmap to make a sustainable and meaningful impact with equity, diversity and inclusion.
Working with us you’ll get:
A robust picture of how diverse, inclusive and equitable your company is today
A clear understanding of your strengths and gaps
A concise roadmap of the actions you’ll need to take to improve
A completely customized 2-year action plan, rooted in evidence and centering employee voices
YOUR EXPERIENCE
We believe that when our clients feel they matter to us, they’re more likely to create environments where employees feel they matter to them.
Our client experience promise is that throughout your work with us, you’ll feel:
Clear
We cut through the dizzying array of information, opinions and options to bring you clear guidance, insight and a roadmap you’ll want to wallpaper your walls with (that’s how excited you’ll be)
Confident
You’ll feel equipped and empowered to drive meaningful change in your organization, because you have the best possible partners at the helm, supporting and guiding you along
Cared for
You’ll never be a number or a logo to us. Because we’re a boutique firm, we invest a lot of time in our client relationships, anticipating what you may need before you even realize you need it, and going the extra mile to surprise and delight you.