Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Heidrick & Struggles
Cecilia Nelson-Hurt is the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Officer at Heidrick & Struggles, a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, serving the senior-level talent and consulting needs of the world's top organizations. Cecilia is responsible for leading the firm’s global diversity strategies and plays an integral role in shaping the organization’s culture, engagement and talent management initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to joining the firm, Cecilia served as Vice President, DE&I for L’Oréal USA, where she was responsible for managing the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts that underscored its commitment to building an equal opportunity workplace and an inclusive beauty brand. In addition, she developed its DE&I curriculum and worked with the company’s employee-led Think Tanks to create and implement strategies and initiatives that positively influenced employee engagement, consumer insights and community outreach.
Cecilia is Co-President of the NYC chapter of Ellevate Network, the largest community of women at work and a powerful coalition of ambitious and supportive women who believe there is strength in numbers. She has extensive Board service across a spectrum of non-profit organizations, including The Dinner Table, YouthBridge NY, Knit the Rainbow and the Vogue Knitting Magazine Diversity Advisory Council. In her board roles, she helps create strategies to advance diversity, inclusion and belonging for the populations they serve.
Additionally, Cecilia has been recognized as: a member of Diversity Woman Media’s Elite Class of 2023; a recipient of the Bottomless Closet 2023 Impact Award; a Moves Magazine “Moves Mentor” in 2022; and a recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Inclusion and Equity Award from the Dominican Women’s Development Center.
Cecilia is an avid global traveler and knitter, often merging her passions with her work for advancing diversity and inclusion by leading global knitting workshops at conferences and festivals. Her goal is to cultivate more inclusive creative spaces worldwide.
Cecilia holds a certificate of Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in International Marketing from Pace University