CHERISE BERNARD, PHD
FOUNDER. SPEAKER. CONSULTANT. INNOVATOR @ SPOTIFY.
DIVERSITY CHAMPION.
Dr. Cherise Bernard leverages a rich background as a scientist, woman in technology and Diversity champion to drive program development, strategy, policy change and inclusion education at Spotify. Working closely with the People, Finance and Global Affairs teams globally, Cherise is passionate about building inclusive workplaces that prioritize allyship, equity, innovation and education. Cherise also leads the management of Spotify's global Employee Resource Groups that serves to build programmatic strategy, policy development and community within Spotify’s employee population.
In addition to her work at Spotify, Cherise is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Modern Work, LLC, a Diversity + Inclusion consultancy that provides in-person and virtual workshops, trainings, and coaching to teams and forward-thinking organizations looking to develop and grow inclusive workplaces.
Cherise holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology where she studied cell cycle regulation in cancer cells and a Mini-MBA certification focused on BioPharma Innovation, both from Rutgers University. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry from Spelman College, a top Historically Black College and University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Bernard's message for professionals is to refuse to be boxed in to the "normal" ideas of success and career progression. Cherise uses her own perspective of career pivoting as a vehicle to identify a deeper sense of passion and purpose.
PERSONAL PROFILE
With a mission of “modernizing today’s workplace,” Dr. Bernard utilizes a personalized approach to transform environments in order to catapult business outcomes. Through her experience as a talent professional and a corporate chang-emaker, Cherise believes in a holistic approach to inclusion practices and has learned that the pillars of education, allyship, equity innovation and intersectionality are critical in creating effective and modernized workplaces.
In her talk and upcoming book "Career Pivoting for the PhD and Other Professionals," Dr. Bernard teaches strategies on how to personalize and design your career path, how to challenge the status quo of what you can do, and how it all aligns with purpose.
Interested in partnering or hearing more about this talk? Get in Touch!
THE JOURNEY
FOUNDER @ MODERN WORK, LLC
August 2020 - present
Guides teams and forward-thinking organizations looking to develop and grow strategic and inclusive approaches in workplace culture.
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING SPECIALIST @ SPOTIFY
November 2020 - present
Works closely with Spotify business leaders and teams to execute Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging strategies globally. Manages the global network of Employee Resource Groups as a means to drive equity within the organization.
CAMPUS RECRUITMENT, ACADEMIC RELATIONS, DIVERSITY @ SPOTIFY
December 2017 - November 2020
Led Spotify's business and PhD internships in the Americas while driving partnerships with U.S. institutions while prioritizing a strong D&I approach. Led Spotify's Black Employee Resource Group.
GLOBAL ACADEMIC RELATIONS @ ELSEVIER
November 2015 - December 2017
Primarily focused on science and health topics, precision medicine, workforce development of early career researchers and research data management.
SENIOR MANAGER OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS, MOUNT SINAI INNOVATION PARTNERS
November 2014 - November 2015
Responsible for the creation, management and continuous improvement of comprehensive Entrepreneur-In-Residence and Internship Programs.
PHD, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
2005-2012
Cherise completed requirements for her doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology.
MINI-MBA, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
2011
Completed a Mini-MBA certification in BioPharma I
B.S., SPELMAN COLLEGE
2001-2005
Cherise attended the premier historically black college and university, Spelman College, and successfully matriculated with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
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Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
Maya Angelou
GET IN TOUCH
Would you like to invite Dr. Bernard to a speaking engagement? Are you interested in partnering on a different project? Get in touch today!