Riikka Salonen, Managing Director of Health Equity at BCT Partners, is a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of dedicated experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, access, and intercultural awareness. Ms. Salonen's work focuses on fostering inclusive work environments, advancing health equity, and developing global DEI solutions.

She leads a team of 30 professionals committed to serving her largest client: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. They promote the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care and manage the Think Cultural Health program, which has provided educational programs to over a million healthcare professionals, enhancing cultural competence in healthcare settings. She works with various health systems nationwide to improve their health equity efforts. She also leads BCT Partners' globalization efforts and the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks product line. Ms. Salonen is one of the 112 global expert panelists who developed the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks.

Her contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades, including being named a Top 21 DEI Influencer by HonestCulture Inc. and receiving awards for her commitment to inclusive hiring practices from organizations like the Diversity Employment Network.

Ms. Salonen completed a graduate degree in intercultural communication and intercultural relations at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, the first of its kind in Europe.

About Us:

BCT Partners is a diverse-led, multidisciplinary, international consulting firm that delivers a full range of research, consulting, training, technology, and analytics services. Their mission is to harness the power of diversity, insights, and innovation to transform lives, accelerate equity, and create lasting change. BCT works with government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and foundations, and is one of the leading firms in the country with expertise in the following markets: housing and community development, economic development, workforce development, children and families, health, education, and diversity, equity & inclusion. BCT has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Management Consulting Firms, Ernst & Young as EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Manage HR Magazine as a Top 10 Firm for Diversity & Inclusion, the Black Enterprise BE100, and the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America.