Meet the founders of The Diversity Advisors

DAWN GILBERT – Principal and Founder, The Diversity Advisors

  • California’s first diversity leader to achieve over 50% spend with Minority Women and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (MWDVBE)
  • Received her Bachelors of Arts in Communications from Howard University, Washington, DC.
  • Named Women of the Year by Latin Business Association
  • Advocate of the Year by Asian Business Association
  • Bravo Zulu Award from Veterans in Business
  • American Indian Chamber of Commerce Board Member
  • Asian Business Association Advisory Council Member
  • Black Economic Council
  • Tribal Liaison for the Southern California tribes
  • Prior to championing DEI and supplier diversity, her leadership ideologies were reinforced and strengthened with roles at NBC, BBC, and PBS
  • Member of the California Joint Utilities
  • Visionary of the Year by STEMulate, a California Community Based Organization

DM Gilbert

Co-Founder

As a bi-racial woman, I have experienced unpleasant, unwarranted, and difficult to digest racially insensitive comments.  This instilled in me an unflinching desire to continually challenge myself to impact the racial inequality narrative as well as challenge us all to pivot in our approach to diversity, respect, and an unquestionable acceptance of all our differences.

DM Gilbert

Diversity is truly part of my DNA with a background which made up of, African American, Polish and Italian to start and truly never know where I fit in until I began my work in Supplier Diversity. As the first diversity leader to achieve over 50% spend with Minority Women and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (MWDVBE) nationally, it is smart business and imperative to the growth of any organization to reflect the community you serve to achieve equity. Driven by passion and based on a unique critical thinking approach, I was able to accomplish substantial inroads in the field of supplier diversity. During my tenure, I’ve developed best in class programs that had a direct impact on the overall cultural and organizational growth around DE&I. My commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for all was the impetus and the catalyst that nourished the visionary drivers that led to the creation of The Diversity Advisors.

EA Simon II

Co-Founder

As a child my parents instilled in me to always go above and beyond expectations laid out before me.”   This advice provided the substantive foundation that guided my work effort as it relates to educational and career growth. It is my belief that the same advice continues to have a critical impact on the choices I make and challenges I accept to continually grow in all ways always. I’m hopeful the creation of this organization will usher in a narrative that strengthens, reinforces, and provides community and organizational growth opportunities absent of biases and racial inequities.

EA Simon II
Edward’s passion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging. and Acceptance (DEIB&A) started in the latter part of my years in St. Louis, Missouri (2007) while attending evening classes to complete my bachelor’s degree. He studied the impact diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging have on organizational culture. After completing his bachelor’s degree, his professional and personal journeys have always focused on his steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He strives to create spaces that welcome and celebrate differences, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and contribute their unique insights. In addition, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and an African American, he knew he wanted to make a difference in the lives of minority individuals while working with everyone to make the world a much better place.
 
 
In 2010, Edward’s focused DEIB&A journey began as vice president of operations and board member for a California-based regulated water utility. One of his key performance goals was to improve the company’s overall supplier diversity spend. Under his leadership and through innovative and sustainable approaches, he significantly increased spend with minorities, women, LGBTQ+, and disabled Veterans suppliers. In 2017, the company began focusing on workforce diversity, and he led this effort for the California operations. In 2020, he joined the board as the inclusion and diversity officer based on his DEI engagement and results. The company’s workforce engagement and inclusion of diverse suppliers continued to increase, a testament to the impact of his work. Having seen the results and the impact that being inclusive can have on the workforce and diverse suppliers, in 2020, Edward and his business partner combined forces to form The Diversity Advisors.

EDWARD SIMON – Principal and Co-Founder, The Diversity Advisors

  • Edward’s diversity leadership role resulted in achieving 48% supplier diversity spend with WBE, MBE, DVBE and LGBTBE’s
  • Led a California regulated utility to receive BUILDOut California’s Built Community Impact Award
  • Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies from Fontbonne University, and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from University of San Diego
  • Diversity Professional Certification from the National Diversity Council
  • Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University
  • Asian Business Association's 2019 Advocate of the Year
  • Veteran In Business Corporation of the Year
  • American Water’s Business Unit of the Year and Advocate of the Year Awards
  • Served as California American Water’s DEI Officer
  • Served as vice president for the Los Angeles Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC)
  • Secretary San Diego Equality Business Association Board
  • University of San Diego Alumni Board
  • Chaired the Asian Business Association Advisory Council, the California Joint Utilities and California Water Association DEI Committee