Sonya Holt
Deputy Associate Director for Talent for Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, CIA
Most recently, Sonya Holt is proud of the launch of the CIA’s Diversity and Inclusion Key Performance Indicator dashboard that is accessible to the workforce. The one-stop source helps all officers understand the agency’s progress in hiring, retaining and engaging a diverse workforce.
The dashboard highlights successes and potential challenges in hiring, promotion, perceptions of inclusion and engagement, and retention that contribute to workforce diversity across all grade levels.
By understanding the “what” and “where” behind diversity and inclusion challenges, the CIA can make better data driven decisions on where to target further analysis, programs and policies.
“Sonya’s work has been vital to CIA’s progress in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility,” said Director of the CIA William J. Burns. “She has worked to ensure DEIA is a top priority for career reviews and increased the accessibility of agency facilities and technology worldwide, resulting in a more inclusive workplace. I’m proud to work with her on these crucial initiatives, and the agency is already seeing the benefits of her efforts.”
Why Watch
In 2022, Holt and her team are focused on training and education. They launched a cultural competency training course and will be rolling out a DEIA certification program for managers, non-supervisors and DEIA practitioners — though all employees will be encouraged participate.
They also updated the CIA’s cross-cultural assessment that measures intercultural competence of individuals and organizations. The goal is to create an environment where all officers practice inclusion, feel valued, have a sense of belonging and have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.
“DEIA enables us to better understand our world and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving,” Holt said. “It raises our consciousness and opens us up to differing viewpoints and perspectives where no individual or group feels left out or not valued. We should all strive to create a place where all feel valued and have a sense of shared belonging.”