NIONA RICH
Managing Director
Vaco
Niona Rich began her career in finance and accounting and is now a managing director at Vaco in Los Angeles, providing consulting, project resources, executive search, direct hire and strategic staffing with expertise in technology, finance and accounting, and operations.
In addition, Rich heads up Vaco’s nationwide efforts in inclusion, diversity, and equity. She created and helps lead Vaco’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDEC) Cabinet and Council. The IDEC is made up of 77 employees and its goal is to facilitate the identification of any issues and provide ideas for new initiatives and programs. Rich leads the steering committee and has generated several new programs and put key initiatives into action.
Under Rich’s leadership, Vaco expanded current programs and developed both formal and informal initiatives to address and improve diversity. Over the last few years, the company has worked to increase its emphasis and formalize its efforts and Rich’s leadership has been a huge part of the company’s acceleration and success in this arena.
Vaco recognizes the value of having a diverse team, among both internal and external teams and partners, to bring a broad range of perspectives from people with different backgrounds including gender, race, ethnicity, orientation, culture, and economic experiences, for continued growth as an organization.
Rich has led the expansion of existing programs and developed new initiatives, processes and training to draw the circle wider to broaden perspectives, connect on a deeper level and guide Vaco to be a force for positive change by building diversity and inclusion at the heart of its culture.
Return to the 2023 Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Awards recap
