Vernā Myers

Vernā Myers is a renowned racial equality speaker, thought leader, and advocate whose powerful lived experiences fuel her mission to drive systemic change in organisations and society. As Founder and President of The Vernā Myers Company, she works with global leaders to dismantle structural barriers based on race, ethnicity, gender, and other identities, while nurturing inclusive and equitable workplace cultures. She is also known for her dynamic, high-energy keynotes that centre on themes such as equity, culture, inclusion, communication, and diversity and inclusion. Through her signature warmth, wisdom, and candour, Vernā inspires audiences to not only acknowledge their biases but actively work to transform their environments.

Vernā’s early career laid a strong foundation for her current influence. After earning a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, she held several pioneering roles, including Executive Director of The Boston Law Firm Group in 1992 and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the Attorney General in 1997. That same year, she founded The Vernā Myers Company, positioning herself as a trusted expert in inclusive leadership. Her deep legal background and early leadership roles across public and private sectors gave her unique insight into institutional inequity and how to address it meaningfully.

Her more recent accomplishments underscore her global impact. In 2018, she became the inaugural Vice President of Inclusion Strategy at Netflix, where she helped embed DEI into every aspect of the company’s global operations. She is the author of two widely respected books—Moving Diversity Forward and What If I Say the Wrong Thing?—both bestsellers published by the American Bar Association. Her TED Talk, How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Towards Them, has reached millions globally, and her LinkedIn learning courses on bias and allyship continue to influence professionals worldwide. Vernā has also been featured in top publications such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, CNN, and The Atlantic, and continues to host her online talk show, Sundays with Vernā.

Vernā’s keynote topics—equity, culture, inclusion, communication, and diversity and inclusion—reflect her unwavering commitment to racial equality and social justice. She empowers leaders to have courageous conversations and take practical steps toward meaningful change. Her blend of legal expertise, personal authenticity, and decades of experience makes her an indispensable voice in the DEI space. Organisations hire Vernā because she doesn’t just talk about inclusion—she lives it, teaches it, and builds the tools to make it actionable.