Chief Inclusion Officer Forum

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

Pragashini acts as Board chair for the CIO Forum and helps to drive our collective learning to support advancement of DEI in Corporate Canada and beyond.

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

Brendon acts as the deputy co-chair of the CIO Forum alongside Pragashini, along with his work supporting Ascend’s strategy team and strategic partnerships work. He joined Ascend as a volunteer in 2020 with the goal to learn from peers and help create a more inclusive society.

What DEI quote inspires you?

“If people were silent, nothing would change” – Malala Yousafzai

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

I joined the CIO forum because no one has the power to drive the change our organizations need on our own. In the forum we are able to leverage our collective knowledge of leaders across industries to advance inclusion, that each leader can take back to their organization to achieve lasting impact.

What DEI quote inspires you?

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

Representation and belonging matters. My goal is to contribute to dismantling barriers to equity and inclusion in the workplace, and to celebrate Pan-Asian role models to inspire others.

What DEI quote inspires you?

“Authenticity is an orientation, not a destination.” - Alok Vaid-Menon

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

I grew up in a world that was less accepting of me than it might be today.  We’ve come a long way, but we have much further to go and I want to be part of helping to advance progress and strengthen inclusion.

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

To learn and to share

What DEI quote inspires you?

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

My family came to Canada from India, via the UK where my older siblings were born. As the first Canadian-born member of my family, I grew up with great respect for multiculturalism and understanding cultural differences. I’m passionate about contributing to the Pan-Asian business community so that all individuals feel they belong and can thrive in Canadian workplaces. The Ascend community and CIO Forum provide a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

What DEI quote inspires you?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

I joined the group to give back and contribute to amplifying Ascend’s impact.

What DEI quote inspires you?

"In the end it is our willingness to learn about one another and our shared history that will provide the fuel to guide us forward." – Brandt C. Louie

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

To actively engage in creating an inclusive society in Canada.

What DEI quote inspires you?

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

I appreciate the supportive environment of Ascend CIO Forum where we can share valuable insights and discuss strategies to educate our workplaces in creating safe spaces, amplifying voices and advancing social equity.

What DEI quote inspires you?

"There’s a MOMENT where you have to choose whether to be silent or to stand up." - Malala Yousafzai

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

This forum is an opportunity to connect and share ideas with other dedicated and passionate leaders who care deeply about creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. It is only through our collective efforts that real and tangible progress can be made in our society and in our workplaces on matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

Inclusion is so important to me because I know how it feels to be not included and the negative repercussions of it. Through the CIO Forum, I get to use my voice to challenge biases, engage in actionable dialogue and help build a truly inclusive corporate Canada.

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

I joined the CIO forum because over the last few years I spent time looking more deeply into the issues faced by the Asian community as distinct from other communities. In combination with the complexity of the ways socio-economic factors impact Asian people I wanted to be a part of the discourse and the search for solutions. What any community goes through affects all communities and better understanding how systemic barriers are faced by different groups of people gives us all insight into the creation of vibrant and healthy communities.

Why did you join the CIO Forum?

I joined to Forum to learn from my peers and also collectively work address challenges to Pan-Asian inclusion and advancement.