Sharon Smith-Akinsanya leads Rae Mackenzie Group, a Minneapolis-based diversity, equity, and inclusion marketing firm that works with companies and nonprofits on strategies to attract, recruit, and retain BIPOC talent. She is also the author of Colorfull: Competitive Strategies to Attract and Retain Top Talent of Color.

In 2016, Smith-Akinsanya founded People of Color Career Fair to help connect professionals of color and hiring managers. This year, she launched the People of Color Careers Social Hiring Network to connect these professionals with corporate employers actively seeking to boost racial inclusivity.