Is DEI Dead?

Join us for a conversation of what DEI leadership looks like in practice, implications of the current political climate on DEI initiatives, and how leaders are navigating business decisions that intersect with DEI.

Speaker: Ashley Scott Chiddick, City Commissioner, Long Beach, CA

Ashley Scott Chiddick is the Director of Delivery and Operations at Whitespace, where she oversees federal software delivery, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance, drawing on over 20 years of experience in public policy, technology, and business. She serves as a City Commissioner on the Long Beach Technology and Innovation Commission and as a Board Member for the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, advising on digital transformation, economic development, and urban planning initiatives. Ashley has led efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, notably at the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative and through the digital transformation of U.S. immigration systems at the Department of Homeland Security. Her earlier career includes key roles in the U.S. Senate and Louisiana State Legislature, where she championed small business policy, economic inclusion, and equity-driven legislative initiatives. As the founder of Capitol A Consulting and manager of A&C Distribution, she supports small businesses and nonprofits in government contracting and compliance. A proud HBCU graduate and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member, Ashley is dedicated to using technology and policy to bridge economic divides and uplift marginalized communities.

Moderator: Roy Quinto, M.Ed, M.B.A., Ed.D

Roy Quinto, Ed.D., MBA, is an accomplished education and nonprofit leader with degrees from UC Berkeley, Harvard, Loyola Marymount, and UCLA Anderson. With over 20 years of experience, he has served as a classroom teacher, school principal, and now leads graduate education access initiatives at UCLA Anderson School of Management. In his current role, he oversees outreach and pre-admission programs, focusing on expanding opportunities for first-generation students, women, veterans, and others facing barriers to advanced degrees. Roy also serves on the Board of Directors for KIPP SoCal Public Schools and is an Aspen Global Fellow, dedicated to advancing equity in education. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband and their chihuahua, Ginger, and enjoys piloting planes, traveling, weightlifting, and teaching Sunday school.

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Co-hosted with: Tech Business Association at Anderson (AnderTech)

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