ERG Experience
at the Great Place To Work^®

Gloria Goins is a visionary business development leader with over 25 years of experience in sales, operations, multicultural marketing, and implementing strategies that promote growth and expand market share. She is currently the President of Brilliant Ideas, a consultancy firm that partners with companies such as The Home Depot, Prudential Financial, The Coca Cola Company, and Canon Virginia to deliver business and employee strategies that enhance engagement and generate revenue.

Gloria recently served as Cisco’s first Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, where her team consulted with over thirty customers to integrate DEI as a business strategy. This unique customer initiative resulted in both sales and pipeline opportunities for Cisco. Before Cisco, Gloria was the Head of Health Equity and Business Development at Amazon Pharmacy, where she developed and led the strategy to create a comprehensive healthcare platform focusing on underserved customers. In that role, Becker’s Hospital Review twice recognized Gloria as one of the top five Amazon healthcare executives to know.

At The Home Depot, Gloria developed the Hispanic business strategy, which included launching the first ever paint color palette reflecting Hispanic culture. This innovative paint palette became the company’s top-selling brand and remains popular 17 years after its launch. At Prudential Financial, she created and managed the company’s largest affiliate marketing program, which generated $100 million in revenue and grew market share among emerging markets.

Gloria is a highly sought after public speaker and thought leader in multicultural business strategies, who consults with senior executives and Boards of Directors on inclusive culture initiatives that drive growth, sales, and operational excellence. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Gaia Herbs, and on an Advisory Board for CEO of The TJX Companies. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of ChangeEngine, an HR SaaS company.

Gloria holds a master’s degree in business administration from Mercer University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stanford University. She currently resides in Parkland, Florida, with her husband Prince, their daughter Grace, and their Yorkie Max.

Simon Yates is the Managing Vice President of Change Management and Associate Engagement at Marriott International. He leads a team responsible for transforming how the company connects with its 900,000 associates, job seekers, and external stakeholders worldwide. Through innovative change management and strategic engagement initiatives, Simon has driven the successful integration of technology to enhance internal communication, making Marriott’s global workforce more connected and empowered. Notably, his leadership has been pivotal in expanding the impact of Marriott’s well-being program, TakeCare, and advancing the company’s Associate Resource Groups (ARGs), further solidifying Marriott's position as a people-first organization.

Since joining Marriott in 2018, Simon has held key roles in internal and external communications across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, engaging with associates across 76 countries and 25 languages. Prior to Marriott, he worked with British Airways, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Royal Sun Alliance, where he led initiatives to enhance employee engagement and organizational change.

A passionate advocate for inclusion and belonging, Simon is dedicated to building an environment where all individuals feel valued and respected. He is also a strong believer in the power of communication to build trust and engagement.

Educated in the UK, Simon holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems and Business Studies. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., with his husband.