Chanté Thurmond - Inclusion and Equity Consultant, Reproductive Justice Advocate

Chanté Thurmond (pronouns: she/her) is an Inclusion & Equity Talent Consultant who partners with emerging tech startups, digital health innovation companies, and VC firms throughout the U.S. helping them attract, retain and engage top talent.

She is the co-founder of The Darkest Horse (TDH) a next-gen consultancy actively helping the workforce and organizations explore the intersections of Radical Inclusion; Emerging Technology; The Future of Work; and Health, Well-Being & Human Potential.

Chanté is also a co-host on the Greater Than Code podcast and a Contributing Writer at Futurithmic, a new digital publication powered by NOKIA that explores the implications of emerging technologies and human connectivity. In her spare time, she serves as a trusted advisor to a handful of minority-owned small businesses, nonprofits, mission-oriented startups and social innovation partnerships. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Mount Mercy University and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership & Development from St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, MN. Chanté is a proud mother of twins and Midwest native who now resides in Chicago’s Northshore.

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Q. Best advice for women who want to go out in life and crush it!

A. The first piece of advice I have is to avoid taking too much advice. Don't wait around for someone to give you permission or validation. If you want to change the world, believe that you have the power to do so and watch the whole universe conspire to help you achieve it. I know because it literally happened to me. And last but not least, always bet on yourself!

Q. What do you do to celebrate women?

A. I do my best to celebrate women each and every day. Especially when I see ordinary women doing extraordinary things, I'm not shy to let them know they are inspiring (in real-time). I've learned that celebrating other women doesn't have to be some fancy, over the top gesture (i.e. a long-form social media post). I often keep it simple and send a simple message along with an emoji or a GIF that expresses my gratitude.

Q. What do you want to see more of?

A. I want to see more women being intentional about gathering in person. While I love technology and the power of 5G, there's nothing like being in the physical presence of like-minded women who want to change the world as much as you do. It's electrifying!

Q. Recommended reading:

A. A few books that come to mind are:

1) "Pleasure Activism" by Adrienne Maree Brown

2) "Emergent Strategy" by Adrienne Maree Brown

3) "The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" by Sonya Renee Taylor

I'm also really into digital publications. My go-to list for female-inspired content includes:

Q. The theme for this year's women's history month is Valiant Women of the Vote. What women's rights are you most passionate about?

A. I'm most passionate about Reproductive Justice (a term coined by SisterSong) which is rooted in the human rights framework. RJ combines reproductive rights and social justice. My call to action is to empower, respect and trust people, especially women, to make decisions about their bodies. I believe in sexual and reproductive justice for ALL!

Q. Shout out to another woman who has made a difference in your life and how she/they did that.

A. Do I have to choose just one? Because I come from a family of strong women. My mother is the most hard-working person I've ever met. I get my tenacity and fierce independence from her and my beautiful grandmothers. I owe a special shout out to my sister for being the best Tïa in the entire world! Without her support, I wouldn't be able to be in two places at one time. She picks up my kids when I can't and always tells me she's proud of me. When I am feeling down, she's there to pick me up. And lastly, my cofounder, Rada. I couldn’t have found a better business partner and accomplice to work with. She's a fierce advocate, extremely bright, grounded and loyal. I thank my lucky stars every day for having her in my life!

Connect with Chanté Thurmond online:

Monica Phillips