Originally from Jackson, MS, Abbie Szabo is a passionate diversity, equity and inclusion expert who brings years of experience both at home and abroad to her unique perspective on DEI. A graduate of the University of Mississippi, she began her career in DEI at a young age when she founded a school group dedicated to bridging racial and ethnic divides through outreach, civic engagement, and cultural pluralism. After college she moved to Shanghai, China, where she taught students of all ages, from pre-K to Kindergarten, middle school and high school. She understands the critical importance of early childhood education and is dedicated to changing the future through inspiring the next generation of leaders. In total, Abbie spent eight years in Asia as a student, traveler, and educator. She has visited and studied all corners of the continent; from the vast, multicultural metropolis of Kuala Lumpur to the rural rice terraces of the Hmong people in Northern Vietnam. Incorporating the best of each place she visited, from the efficiency of Japan to the inclusivity of Taiwan, she brings a global perspective to DEI that is richly communicated through her vibrant storytelling.Abbie currently works as a DEI program specialist in the fintech space, where she has led programs to attract, hire, and retain women, veterans and other systemically overlooked populations. Abbie has spent the last year creating and implementing programs connecting people to resources and strategies, fostering new career pathways and opportunities within technology. She is involved with many community groups that focus on LGBTQ+, veterans, caregivers, and minorities such as Black+, Latinx+, and Asian+. She also works with teams of women to help them leverage their networks to support their career goals. Abbie facilitates high-energy trainings that leave long-lasting impressions on employees of all walks of life. In her free time, Abbie enjoys traveling in the great outdoors with her husband and dog, Pepper Ann.