FORT MITCHELL, Ky. — A Cincinnati native is using her life experience to further diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in northern Kentucky.

What You Need To Know

  • Ashleigh DuBois is the first director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

  • DuBois is a Cincinnati native and an educator at heart

  • Brent Cooper, the chamber’s president and CEO, says DuBois has already helped increase the number of minority-owned businesses in the area

  • DuBois said she may be the first, but she doesn’t want to be the last in that role 

Ashleigh DuBois says she wasn’t looking for a new job, but a scheduled 30-minute meeting led to her being offered the role as the first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

“It did not exist before me. I am the first one to hold it and hopefully not the last person to hold it,” DuBois said.

DuBois took on several roles in education in the past, including teaching 8th grade math. She says is this opportunity hadn’t opened up, she’d be doing something similar in diversity, inclusion and equity.

“As a Black woman, I don’t think I was ever going to get around it. But I’m an educator at heart,” DuBois shared.

DuBois says she’s been able to start strongly since taking on this new position back in Jan. 2022, working to educate others and make everyone feel at home in northern Kentucky. A little over a year in and she’s helped bring minority entrepreneurs together and spark conversations through different events.

“It doesn’t always have to be heavy. We’re not always talking racism, we’re not alway talking injustices. Sometimes, we’re just talking about how do you feel comfortable where you live?”

The Chamber of Commerce also now holds a partnership with Northern Kentucky University on diversity, equity and inclusion training and certification programs for local businesses. Those at the chamber say DuBois’ work in this new role is already making a difference.

“We’ve seen a 30% increase year-over-year in minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses. DEI is good business,” said Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

But DuBois knows her work needs to continue, and she’s got big goals. “We need people to be more involved. We also need to know what’s going on,” she explained.

She wants to continue bringing people together and lift others up in role at the chamber.

“You do it because you love it and you want everyone to feel included. So whether they look like me or they don’t, whether they speak the language that I speak or they don’t, I want everyone to know that when you come to at least this environment- this northern Kentucky metro region that we want you here. We love you. We want you to feel comfortable. We want you to learn, live, play and grow,” DuBois said.

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