Denise Matayoshi
Host and Founding Member, Olympia, Washington
“It’s not enough to say that we value diversity. We must find ways to live these values every day.”
Meet Denise - The Full Human Being
Denise is totally herself and this embracing of her true self empowers and encourages others to do the same. She believes in leading teams with love, compassion, and empathy. Denise considers each individual with care and depth. She looks at their unique skills, talents, and perspectives as an invaluable part of our whole human experience.
She is most proud of her achievement in establishing and cultivating the Latino Leadership Network which is a group of Latinos and allies working in the Washington State Government that aims to build up, connect, and inspire Latin people seeking to join public service.
Denise sees leading with love as having compassion, allowing people to show up as their whole selves, and giving people the space to process as they need. She celebrates when someone’s humaneness comes forth and bubbles up to the surface. One of her greatest strengths is meeting people where they are at and being present with them in that moment.
How Denise Can Help You Transform Your Organization
Denise is the voice of inclusion and authenticity where ever she goes. She is a transformational coach, conference presenter, facilitator, trainer, consultant, and change leader who focuses on the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion through the lens of I/O psychology. Engage with Denise for DE+I solutions in leadership development, training, policy writing, strategic planning, or organizational development. Her work incorporates the identification of micro- and macroaggressions for BIPOC individuals, especially the Latin community. She doesn’t believe in trying to “fix” people or change circumstances, in fact she’s adamant that there is no such thing. Rather Denise helps organizations see the unique kaleidoscope of where they are today and help them appreciate the strengths of their people for the beautiful stained glass window that it is. In short, Denise helps shift organizational culture to become more inclusive. Are you ready to begin this journey for your own workplace? Connect with Denise.
Denise’s Story
Denise was born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu and in her young adulthood, moved to the mainland. She attended Brigham Young University of Idaho and jumped full force into a career filled with a myriad of expertise, including education, technology, public health, and even volleyball coaching. It was her time in state government that highlighted the need for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work specifically supporting Latinx representation in Washington State Government.
Denise completed her degree in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology while working full time and raising her own children and three foster children. Her flexibility, determination, and tenacity were forged in the fire of this highly involved time. Skills which she draws on now in her professional work often. Shortly after completing her degree, Denise was impacted by an injury that greatly affected her life and forced a reset on her career. But throughout these difficult days and weeks, her determination and tenacity never faltered. Denise now speaks of her injury as the variable that realigned her life and gave her the refreshed opportunity to join the consulting world with total vulnerability and authenticity. She is real, open, honest, and unafraid. Learn more about Denise’s history, education, and working experiences on LinkedIn.
Making Spaces For Us All To Be Our Best
Denise has faced and overcome major readjustments in her personal and professional life; these experiences have shaped and molded her into the resilient and inclusive person she is today. Denise shows up fully as herself and empowers others to do the same. Through this empowerment of genuine expression, Denise helps create spaces within organizations that all people feel comfortable and encouraged to bring their best, by simply being themselves. Denise helps leaders and organizations see how diversity is one of our biggest collective strengths – and when we are strengthened together, we inevitably will be strengthened individually. Complex challenges melt into pragmatic solutions when we all bring our unique strengths, talents, perspectives, and backgrounds to the table. If you are interested in learning more about Denise’s skills for creating inclusive spaces, connect with her on LinkedIn.
Everything Else You Wish You Knew About Denise
Denise has a rich family history that she loves to share stories about. Her father is Okinawan and her mother is a mix of Western European descent, most prevalently including English and Welsh. The pair met in Hawaii and when her mom returned home to Idaho, she found an engagement ring waiting at the post office for her.
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