zWORKS has always been about bringing people together for the benefit of the Zionsville community. You don’t have to look far to see the entrepreneurial engine at work whether that be the many small businesses that use the zWORKS spaces to host meetings and clients or the partners that offer their resources and expertise to help startups on their journey. That’s why we were excited when Monisha Mitchell decided to join zWORKS and bring her guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) to our members so we can continue growing in a positive and meaningful way right here in Zionsville.

Monisha’s mantra is to engage, educate and expand. She carved this path over the years as a licensed therapist followed by work in nonprofit leadership roles and more recently in insurance. Monisha’s unique background and skill set has positioned her to be a positive change agent in the community.

“I come from a wonderfully diverse family that I feel gave me a deep appreciation for various cultures and experiences,” says Monisha. “The last year has been difficult for many people. It brought to light so much in terms of mental health but also in terms of diversity.”

Monisha strives to engage and empower whether on an individual level through therapy or an organizational level through engagement groups. She seeks to educate through community conversations about DE&I but also to bring awareness to mental health issues. In both instances, she aims to encourage people to expand their reach in the world and hopefully that results in people connecting with one another more inclusively and wholeheartedly.

“Cultural competency and diversity has always been an important part of growing communities,” says Monisha. “My desire is that we have a community that is more welcoming and inclusive. That creates an opportunity for self reflection and awareness which is where my experience and services come in.”

Monisha draws upon her experience working as an individual in a private practice and found the greatest challenge was working alone and feeling cut off. She recognizes that a space like zWORKS is a wonderful way for innovators, who may otherwise be isolated in their own spaces, to coalesce and have a sense of community. It’s the sense of community and entrepreneurial spirit that inspired Monisha to join zWORKS.

Please join us for a free DE&I Lunch & Learn on June 25, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at zWORKS. Monisha will discuss the importance of employing a diverse workforce, what equity looks like, and how inclusion broadens your customer base and reaches new audiences.

Fun Facts about Monisha:

• She is the proud mother of three children ages 28-5!
• She loves to write; she published her first essay on cultural competence in 2005 and now blogs for Indianapolis Moms Blog.
• She first started visiting Zionsville as youngster to ride horses at Pleasant Run (which if our memory serves us right, is now Target!)