Olivia has spent several years in consulting, specifically working with a number of people and companies across the public and private sectors for more than 15 years. She brings with her experience in management and diversity training, and also brings to her work an approach that’s steeped in creativity and a sensitivity to people and their lived realities. An avid learner who loves reading and trying new things, Olivia studied English and Book and Media Studies at the University of Toronto.
Organizations we partner with
Bata Shoe Museum, Canadian Council for the Arts, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals, City of Toronto, David Suzuki Foundation, Fasken, Genome Canada, George Brown College, GTAA, Humber, IMCO, Kids Help Phone, Luminato, McMaster University, MLSE, OICR, Ontario Presents, ROM, Sankofa Square, Sick Kids, TD Bank, TTC, UHN Foundation, United Way Greater Toronto, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University Pension Plan Ontario, York University
Clients Served Include
Browse Industry Insights
BES provides a wide range of free educational resources designed to inform, guide, and support professionals at every stage of their career.
Indigenous Knowledge / Chad Martin Lawrence
What Counts as Knowledge? Indigenous Ways of Knowing and the Assumptions We Bring to Work
Organizations make decisions every day about what counts as knowledge. Data become evidence, professional credentials establish expertise, and written records acquire authority, while knowledge carried through story, lived experience, relationships or connection to place can be considerably harder to recognize. Drawing on the work of Indigenous scholars and knowledge holders, this article asks what Indigenous Ways of Knowing might reveal about these assumptions. For those of us who are not Indigenous, the purpose is not to extract Indigenous practices for use in our workplaces, but to allow different ways of knowing to challenge categories we may otherwise take for granted. In doing so, we may begin to ask not only what our organizations know, but how we have decided what knowing is.
Indigenous Knowledge / Jason Murray
National Indigenous History Month as a Mirror rather than a Museum
This reflection piece argues that National Indigenous History Month should be an opportunity not only to deepen our understanding of history, but also to examine how it shapes our everyday choices.
EDIA / Chad Martin Lawrence
Systemic Racism Without Explicit Laws: Understanding the ‘Shadow System’ of Today
This article clarifies what is meant by systemic racism in contemporary contexts—particularly in environments where explicitly discriminatory laws no longer exist. While many modern systems are designed to be fair, disparities in outcomes continue to persist across areas such as employment, leadership representation, and access to opportunity. Rather than locating systemic racism solely in formal rules, this paper argues that it increasingly operates through what can be understood as a “shadow system.” This shadow system is not codified in policy, but exists alongside formal structures, shaping how decisions are interpreted and applied in practice. It is influenced by habit, familiarity, and historical patterns that continue to inform judgments about competence, potential, and fit.
Sustainability / Helen Mekonen
Equity is not Optional: Lessons from Public Education for Every Organization
What happens when our systems only recognize certain kinds of contributions, and only reward certain ways of leading? Drawing from the lessons of public education and the insights of scholar Nicole Ineese-Nash, this article explores how organizations can move beyond performative inclusion toward systems that truly honour cultural knowledge, relational leadership, and shared responsibility. Rather than focusing on what’s lacking, Helen Mekonen invites readers to consider what’s already present—gifts, strengths, and ways of knowing that are often overlooked. For organizations committed to sustainability, equity is not a one-time investment; it is a design principle that must live in everyday practice, accountability, and imagination.
Indigenous Knowledge/Jason Murray
National Indigenous History Month as a Mirror rather than a Museum
This reflection piece argues that National Indigenous History Month should be an opportunity not only to deepen our understanding of history, but also to examine how it shapes our everyday choices.
Sustainability/Stephanie La
Green AI: The Role of AI in Sustainability
Green AI emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with environmental responsibility, addressing the significant environmental and ethical challenges posed by AI development, such as high carbon emissions, energy consumption, and data privacy concerns. While AI offers transformative benefits, including climate change prediction, pollution monitoring, and public health insights, its rapid advancement often prioritizes speed over sustainability. By adopting Green AI practices—such as energy-efficient algorithms, renewable energy sources, and sustainable development goals—organizations can reduce their environmental impact, align with sustainability objectives, and foster long-term growth while contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future.