Lydia Smith

Chief Diversity Officer & VP Inclusive Marketing

Professional Overview
Lydia Smith is a seasoned diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist with extensive experience driving transformative change across leading retail and financial services organizations. As the Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Inclusive Marketing at Victoria's Secret & Co., she spearheads enterprise-wide initiatives to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture while shaping innovative marketing strategies that resonate with diverse consumer segments.

Experience Summary

Current Role
As Chief Diversity Officer and VP Inclusive Marketing at Victoria's Secret & Co., Lydia is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive DEI strategies to advance the company's diversity and inclusion goals. She collaborates cross-functionally to drive cultural transformation, enhance talent acquisition and development practices, and embed inclusive principles throughout the organization's marketing, advertising, and brand positioning. Under her leadership, Victoria's Secret has made significant strides in improving workforce representation, supplier diversity, and community partnerships.

Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Lydia served as the Chief Diversity Officer at Victoria's Secret & Co., where she spearheaded the company's first-ever DEI function and introduced impactful initiatives to foster a more inclusive work environment. Before that, she held various diversity and inclusion roles at Kohl's and Northwestern Mutual, where she led the development and execution of strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Lydia's diverse background also includes experience in business development, revenue marketing, and employee resource group management at GE Healthcare and MillerCoors.

Academic Background
Lydia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated with honors and was actively involved in campus organizations dedicated to diversity and inclusion.

Areas of Expertise

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy

• Inclusive Marketing and Brand Positioning

• Talent Acquisition and Development

• Organizational Culture Transformation

• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Data-driven Decision Making and Reporting

Professional Impact
Under Lydia's leadership, Victoria's Secret & Co. has achieved notable milestones, including:

• Increasing the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in senior leadership roles by 25% over the past two years

• Establishing a supplier diversity program that has resulted in 30% of the company's procurement spend being directed to diverse-owned businesses

• Launching a comprehensive unconscious bias training program that has reached over 90% of the organization's workforce

• Spearheading the development of a new, inclusive marketing campaign that has driven a 15% increase in brand favorability among diverse consumer segments

Conclusion
Lydia Smith is a dynamic diversity and inclusion leader who has consistently demonstrated her ability to drive meaningful change and elevate the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives across the retail industry. With her passion for inclusive leadership, strategic mindset, and proven track record of success, Lydia is poised to continue making a significant contribution to Victoria's Secret & Co. and the broader business community.