Perika Sampson is a People, Culture, and Equity Strategist, DEI Thought Leader, and Executive Coach with 25+ years of experience helping leaders and organizations thrive. She has a proven record of advancing inclusive leadership, developing diverse talent pipelines, and coaching leaders at every level—from emerging managers to C-suite executives and entrepreneurs—to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.
She is the Founder of Sampson Dearborn Consulting, a boutique advisory and coaching firm dedicated to inclusive leadership, professional growth, and organizational transformation. Previously, she served as Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Gilead Sciences, guiding DEI strategy across 35 countries, and held leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and Bank One (now JPMorgan Chase).
A proud UCLA alumna, Perika serves on the Board of the American Heart Association, Los Angeles County, and as Board Member Emeritus and EDI Taskforce Leader for the Oakland Symphony. She has also contributed to the City of Los Angeles Private Sector Taskforce on Race and Equity.
Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, inclusion, and unlocking the potential of people and communities.
I like sports, but I’m terrible with sports analogies. A fun fact about me is that I collect skateboards—though for some reason, no one has sold me the wheels! I’m still not sure how I should feel about that… but it always makes me laugh.
From Campus to Career: Thriving in Your First Role
Master the protocols, performance expectations, and strategies for early success.
Your Corporate Brand: Define It, Design It, Live It
Position yourself with purpose and stand out across every stage of your career.
Unleash Your Potential: Coaching for Emerging Leaders
Build confidence, skills, and momentum to accelerate your leadership journey.
Playing the Long Game: Career Moves That Matter
Plan with intention, position for advancement, and build sustainable success.
Level Up: Leadership Essentials for Emerging Managers
Sharpen executive presence, influence, and decision-making for lasting impact.
The Language of Leadership: Influence Up, Down, and Across
Harness communication as a powerful tool for alignment and effectiveness.
Inclusive Leadership: Purpose-Driven, Equity-Focused, Impact-Ready
Lead with intention to foster inclusion and drive performance.
High-Impact Teams: Alignment, Agility & Achievement
Unlock the practices that drive performance, collaboration, and results.
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