Understanding Cultural Intelligence and Identity

Taryn Petryk

Diversity and Inclusion Director

Ross School of Business

Taryn Petryk serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion where she engages with faculty, staff and students to actively move forward Ross’s five-year Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. With 18 years of progressive experience, Taryn has worked in a number of capacities in higher education including business schools, diversity and inclusion, intergroup dialogue, first year experience and residence education. Throughout her career, Taryn has developed consultations and trainings for executive leadership, staff and faculty at institutions across the country in areas such as understanding cultural intelligence (CQ) and unconscious bias, designing dialogue programs, developing facilitator skills, and creating organizational change grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion. Taryn is passionate about creating intentional ways for individuals to explore their own identities and she has a unique way of challenging others to reflect on how their culture, family background and personal experiences affect their perception of inequalities and inequities that exist in our society. Grounded in storytelling, Taryn models the art of empathy and vulnerability in sharing her personal journey around the intersection of race, ethnicity, body size and gender identity, amongst many others.