In my nearly 8 years of running a non-profit, I have met only a few executives who have impacted me as much as Diana Ferguson. It is with a heavy heart that I share that she passed away on December 6th, 2020. Diana made a forever impact on me personally and a lasting legacy through her commitment to BIT. When she joined our Board of Directors in 2016, her first order of business was to inform me that she would be a “roll up your sleeves” type of Director. I almost cried at her declaration. She followed this up by walking the walk. Diana had those hard conversations within her own organization, Oppenheimer Funds, creating an award-winning program within a historically conservative financial institution. Her influence helped us develop BIT’s model of leading with education for both our employer partners and candidates. She coached me on how to evolve our business to one that can work within the Fortune 100 space. The manner in which we present BIT to corporations today derived directly from Diana’s guidance. Nothing I could say or do would express the gratitude I have for Diana’s leadership and now legacy. To honor Diana and her importance to BIT and myself, we will be changing the name of the Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award to the Diana Ferguson Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award, indefinitely. Diana may no longer be physically with us, but her contributions and spirit will impact BIT and my life forever. Thank you Diana for always bringing a ray of sunshine into life….we will do our best to keep it shining.
You will be deeply missed,
Mike Hess
Mike, I am so, so proud of you and was very sorry to hear that you lost Diane Ferguson.
What a beautiful lady and so young. I’m sure you will miss her.
I love BIT.
Maryanna Bissell
That’s beautiful! Diana is one of the most inclusive people I’ve known. Diana introduced me to Mike and BIT. Her passing was such a loss to the world but her spirit lives on through our memories of her beautiful example.