“Diversity Advisory’s driving mission is to help clients advance diversity from vague definitions and esoteric theories to realistic diversity and inclusion strategies.”

~ Janet Emerson Bashen

At Diversity Advisory, we have a deep understanding of how organizational culture operates – we recognize that the diversity process touches all aspects of an organization, from philosophy to governance to daily operations and often raises many sensitive issues. When properly defined and managed, diversity has the potential to strengthen organizational effectiveness and efficiency, especially for organizations that cross a wide variety of business disciplines and industries. The meaning of diversity within an organization depends largely on the leaders in power and their perspectives on diversity. Diversity must be achieved and managed effectively if its benefits are to be achieved. This requires leadership commitment, the establishment of priorities and realistic objectives, the assessment and development of policies and practices to meet the particular diversity needs of the organization. If conducted in a systematic, thorough and professional manner, the organizational diversity assessment can add to the organizational culture, service delivery and policy development. Diversity Advisory welcomes the opportunity to partner with an organization to design an assessment strategy to gather comprehensive, candid, detailed attitudes and beliefs from staff, management and leadership on diversity and inclusion; determine current strengths and opportunities; and offer recommendations based on the needs of the organization.

We recognize that our continued success depends on the collective expertise, creativity and professionalism of our diverse team members. Our staff is committed to excellence in client service, and take pride in performing outstanding work that is effective, timely, and thorough. Diversity is a way of life at Bashen corporation. We celebrate different lifestyles, professional experiences, and personalities. Our workplace village is full of innovations that meet our clients’ ever-expanding needs.

~ Janet Emerson Bashen

Bashen values are clearly exemplified in our diverse workforce. Our staff comprises 56% minorities and 64% women, and we speak seven languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Yourba, Bengali, Hindi and English.

We assembled a team of seasoned specialists in the areas of labor and employment consulting, strategic sourcing, process management, information technology and human resources to help clients achieve long-term business objectives and organizational goals. Diversity Advisory’s competitive advantage is our team.

Collectively, Bashen's management team possesses over 100 years of compliance experience with a focus on EEO claims, diversity strategies, affirmative action initiatives, fair employment practices compliance, risk management and training. Bashen's highly qualified and diverse workforce is peerless. Bashen's full-time consulting staff comprises attorneys and human resource professionals who possess specialized expertise regarding workplace disputes and EEO compliance best practices.

All consultants are trained in Bashen's unique and innovative business process model, strategic mission and customer service philosophy. Bashen's internal professional development program includes a series of modules regarding claims handling and investigative best practices, EEO compliance, diversity and inclusion, affirmative action initiatives, customer services, business ethics, alternative dispute resolution, as well as employment law updates. Bashen's professional staff works in concert with the organization's EEO personnel to ensure compliance with applicable laws and the statement of work.

Janet E. Bashen, President and CEO of Bashen Corporation

“As a black girl growing up in the segregated South, I asked my parents many questions about race for which they did not have answers. This started a life-long quest of trying to understand our country's history and struggle with issues of race. This research led me to gender issues and then my passion with EEO grew into a business interest that has evolved, incorporating diversity and inclusion initiatives. The mission of Diversity Advisory is not to change the nation but provide the learning tools that allow us to pause, reflect, and contemplate change.”

Janet Emerson Bashen is the founder and President of Bashen Corporation (“Bashen”). With over 25 years consulting experience, Ms. Bashen is considered an industry expert in Fair Employment Practices which includes: EEO compliance, affirmative action, training, and diversity inclusion strategies. Established in 1994, Ms. Bashen built the business from her home office with no money, one client and a fervent commitment to succeed. As an African-American businesswoman competing with legions of capitalized law firms and other consulting firms, Ms. Bashen’s goal was to establish immediate credibility with prospective clients. These entities had to be persuaded that Bashen’s services would forever transform the way EEO and Fair Employment Practices concerns are successfully managed. Today, Bashen is the brand for human resources and labor and employment consulting. Bashen’s vision has created a cottage industry for HR/Diversity/EEO “insourcing”.

Janet Bashen and Bashen Corporation are continually recognized nationally for important business achievements. In May 2000, Ms. Bashen testified before Congress regarding the affect of the FTC opinion letter on third party discrimination investigations. Ms. Bashen, along with Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, were key figures in the change in legislation. In October 2002, Bashen Corporation was named one of America’s entrepreneurial growth leaders by Inc Magazine in its annual Inc 500 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, with an increase in sales of 552 percent. In October 2003, Bashen received the Pinnacle Award by the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce for success in business. Ms. Bashen was also the 2004 recipient of the prestigious Crystal Award, presented by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., for achievement in business. She was featured in the October 2004 issue of Eclipse Magazine highlighting her business successes. In January 2006, Ms. Bashen became the first African-American female in United States history to hold a patent for a software invention. The patented software, LinkLine, is a web-based application for EEO claims intake and tracking, claims management, document management and numerous reports. Bashen recently released its federal sector counterpart, EEOFedLink, and its modules MD715Link and AEPSoft, which incorporate affirmative action initiatives and reporting features. In 2008, Bashen Corporation was named as one of DiversityBusiness.com’s Top 500 Minority Owned Businesses in the United States.

Ms. Bashen's experience with Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity, including but not limited to Title VII, ADA, ADEA, EPA, Executive Order 11246, MD-110, 29 CFR Part 1614 and the Federal Process, makes her a sought after lecturer and motivational speaker. She is a frequent lecturer on equal employment opportunity and fair employment practices, participating as a featured speaker for organizations such as the EEOC, American Association for Affirmative Action, The Professional Liability Underwriting Society, the Society for Human Resources “SHRM”, State Bar of Texas - Labor and Employment Section, The National Association of Negro Women in Business and many others. Ms. Bashen has been interviewed by numerous television programs, including CNN, as well as articles written by respected print publications such as The Houston Chronicle and the Detroit News.

Ms. Bashen has been the subject of numerous television and radio programs, including Business Talk Radio, CNN, and respected print publications, such as the Houston Chronicle, the Detroit News, and Eclipse Magazine. Ms. Bashen and Bashen Corporation have received numerous business awards including: Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 500, the Pinnacle Award, the Crystal Award achievements, and the Diversity Business award.

Inventor
In 2006, Ms. Bashen received a patent for her EEO Software invention, LinkLine. Ms. Bashen made history as the first African American Woman with a web based case management software application, and Ms. Bashen was inducted to the Black Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007 with such inventors as: George Washington Carver [peanut products], Madame C.J. Walker [beauty and hair care products], and Garrett Augustus Morgan [traffic signal], to name a few.

Training & Articles
Ms. Bashen has conducted training and written numerous white papers and Industry articles regarding EEO, Diversity, Fair Employment Practices and Affirmative Action:

• Diversity Investment Plans “DIP” – What is Your ROI? – 2009
• Software as a Service (“SaaS”) The SaaS Application why it’s important to
  EEO Investigations – 2009
• “Generations Apart” Diversity for the Generations – 2008
• Building a Strategic Affirmative Action Plan
• Designing an EEO Business Initiative, “It’s all in the Plan” – May 2008
• The EEO Business Plan – 2008
• Diversity Process Mapping – 2007
• “The Color of Diversity, Race Codes - It's All in the Mix” – 2007
• EEO Process Mapping, “A Narrow and Winding Road” – December 2006
• Fair Employment Practices - It Affects the Bottom Line! – 2006
• Equal Employment Opportunity - The Real Meaning 40 Years Later! – 2006
• Best Practices for Managing Diversity - 2002
• Solving the Affirmative Employment Maze – 2004
• LinkLine, A Look at Technology and EEO – 2001
• Diversity Training for Employees and Front-line Managers– 2001
• Advanced EEO for Supervisors and Managers – 2000
• The Life Cycle of A Discrimination Complaint – 1999
• The ABC’s of EEO for Supervisors and Managers – 1998

Professional, Civic, Social and Civil Rights Organizations

• National Urban League
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• National Organization for Women
• Society for Human Resource Management
• Professional Liability Underwriters Society
• American Society for Training and Development
• Houston Society Healthcare Human Resources Association
• National Employment Lawyers Council
• League of United Latin American Citizens
• Houston Women’s Business Council
• Houston Minority Business Council
• American Association of Affirmative Action

Community Service
Ms. Bashen maintains a very strong community commitment and was most recently on the Board of Directors for the North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation, chairs the Corporate Advisory Board of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., and is a Board member of the PrepProgram, a non-profit organization dedicated to preparing at-risk student athletes for college. Ms. Bashen is also on the Board of Visitors for Alabama A&M University, one of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (“HBCU”).

• Prep Program
• Ronald McDonald House
• North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
• Operation ReachBack, Inc.
• The Houston Area Women’s Shelter
• Rainbow Kids
• Special Olympics
• Houston Young Lawyers Association
• DePelchin Children’s Center
• Donation of Computers to College Students
• AIDS Foundation

EDUCATION
Ms. Bashen’s educational background includes a degree in legal studies and government from The University of Houston, and postgraduate studies at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Administration Executive Program. Ms. Bashen is also a graduate of Harvard University’s “Women and Power: Leadership in a New World,” an executive program (admission to the program was made on a competitive basis).