Ceren Abacioglu

I am passionate about creating a sense of shared responsibility for fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Workplaces and organizations face numerous challenges when it comes to fostering meaningful diversity and maintaining it over time. While the benefits of diversity are widely recognized, creating an environment where individuals can be their authentic selves and truly belong is crucial to unlock those benefits. 

In my work, I help organizations adopt the following strategies to create an environment where people can bring their whole selves to work and cultivate a sense of belonging, 

• Dismantle Systemic Barriers: Address systemic barriers and policies that perpetuate inequities and hinder the full participation and advancement of underrepresented groups. This includes revisiting recruitment processes, performance evaluations, and access to development opportunities.

• Foster Open Communication: Establish platforms and channels that encourage open and respectful dialogue. Promote active listening, empathy, and understanding across all levels of the organization. Create spaces for individuals to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas without judgment.

• Cultivate Inclusive Leadership: Leaders must lead by example, actively demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Encouraging vulnerability, actively listening, and valuing diverse perspectives can build trust and foster psychological safety.

Who am I? 

Born in the U.S. to Turkish parents, I lived in multiple different countries before settling in The Netherlands where I was trained as a behavioral scientist. 

I hold a Ph.D. in Social Psychology with a minor in Educational Sciences. My expertise centers around inclusive institutional cultures, characteristics of effective professionalization for the development of these cultures, and implications of inclusive practices on group dynamics and motivation. 

Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher at UvA and a self-standing trainer, facilitator, and consultant at Diversity Dive, I bridge research and practice in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and intercultural communication. For my efforts in bridging research and practice, I’ve received several recognitions such as Het Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Grant and Young Talent Award (2018). 

Benefits/approach: 

With a robust academic foundation, I bring an analytical approach to identifying shortcomings and challenges within organizations' DEI initiatives. Leveraging my research expertise, I develop evidence-based approaches to address these gaps, ensuring that strategies and interventions are grounded in rigorous scholarship. Additionally, I possess the capacity to assess the effectiveness of DEI initiatives, using data-driven methodologies to measure impact and drive continuous improvement. By merging academic rigor with practical application, I strive to foster inclusive environments that cultivate diversity, equity, and intercultural understanding.

My training and facilitation approach is based on experiential learning. With this approach, you “learn by doing”, and connect new knowledge to your lived experiences through reflection and critical thinking, and synthesize this knowledge to apply to new situations.

Through my own lived experiences, I have witnessed the intrinsic significance of belonging, an elusive state that can seem unattainable when one is viewed as the "other." This personal familiarity enables me to build connections and extend empathetic understanding to both individuals and organizations seeking to cultivate inclusivity and equity. Having resided and worked in multiple countries, I have immersed myself in varying cultures, identities, languages, and perspectives, granting me the ability to skillfully navigate the rich world of diversity.

I mostly work with: 

Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion requires a collective effort and collaboration across various teams and levels of the organization. I mostly work with HR, DEI, L&D, and leadership teams to drive meaningful change.