Worcester Business Journal

W F O C U S O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S 22 Worcester Business Journal | October 26, 2020 | wbjournal.com W hen Valerie Zolez- zi-Wyndham made the decision to leave her position at Worcester nonprofit Community Legal Aid to found a diver- sity, equity and inclusion consultancy, she was nervous to step out on her own. "It was scary to quit my job," said Zolezzi-Wyndham. But, she said, as an immigrant from Mexico who le her family back home to move to the United States, she already had quite an independent streak. "You have a dream and you sort of stick with it for a while, and eventually you just have to go for it," she said. e path to founding and lead- ing Promoting Good was not direct, though, and was in many ways defined by exactly those kinds of leaps of faith. Born and raised in Mexico City, she first lived in the U.S. as an elementary school student, accompanying her father while he pursued his MBA. She returned to Mexico for high school, where she attended a British International School with 45 peers, many of whom were from different countries. "It was just an amazing time to learn how to be friends with people who are really different from you, and to really be accepting of who each of us were," Zolezzi-Wyndham said. Zolezzi-Wyndham returned to the U.S. to study political science and French literature at Boston College, where she met her husband. She returned to Mexico for a stint in banking before returning to the U.S. to work in distribution in Los Angeles. "I really believe strongly in the power of working across sectors," she said. "And so I wasn't certain that I wanted to stay in banking. I wanted to try some other kind of business." at curiosity eventually led Zolez- zi-Wyndham back to the classroom, where she earned a law degree from Boston University School of Law. "Even though I loved the business, I felt like there was a calling that I had to commit myself to doing good in the world," she said. And so, Zolezzi-Wyndham landed at Community Legal Aid, where she worked her way up managing attorney. AiVi Nguyen, a partner at Worcester law firm Bowditch & Dewey, who sits on the Edward M. Kennedy Health Center board with Zolezzi-Wyndham, said Zolezzi-Wyndham developed a brilliant CLA program where medical providers help patients find legal help. Zolezzi-Wyndham makes inclusion her life's work BY MONICA BUSCH Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer "She's one of those people – it's shock- ing to me that her name isn't splashed around a lot more than it is because she's one of those fly under the radar, quiet leaders," Nguyen said. While Zolezzi-Wyndham's work at CLA was impactful, she began to feel her expertise might be better served elsewhere.When someone asked her if she knew who might be a good resource for diversity, equity and inclusion work, it was as though a light turned on. "I was like, well, wait a second, I could do that work," she said. She le CLA and launched her new venture in the fall of 2017. "No one else leaves a great job at CLA to pursue a new business in a field that people think, you know, I'd say five years ago, old white dudes, were thinking that diversity and inclusion is like a fad," Nguyen said of Zolezzi-Wyndham. Moving forward, Zolezzi-Wyndham is focused on growing Promoting Good. Already, she has accrued enough clients – including Worcester Art Museum, Fallon Health and the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services – she's hired contract workers to help her. She pulls her inspiration from her cli- ents, especially those who promote DEI in the face of a President Donald Trump Administration order prohibiting some DEI training in the federal government. "I am inspired by these employees and organizations that are standing up to the executive order, other distractions, and behaviors that get in the way of equity," she said. Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham Founder & owner Promoting Good, LLC in Upton Residence: Upton Colleges: Boston College, Boston University School of Law What are the keys to success? Do what you love with confidence, focus, and positivity. Commit to life-long learning, and be flexible: You may need to pivot to succeed. Build a diverse team with different gifts to support you, and trust them. Invest in your team and provide them with resources. Bonjour: I speak fluent French. What is your advice for women in the business world? Bring your full self to work with pride. Promote good by leading in every room where decisions are made. Do not let anybody tell you to change who you are. Stand your ground when it matters, have a growth mindset, and be ready to walk away if needed.

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