Lauren Aguilar

Lauren Aguilar, Ph.D., is one of the world’s foremost scientific experts on inclusion and diversity. She specializes in translating the science of diversity into actionable strategies that organizations and teams can use to recruit and retain top talent. She is the founder and CEO of illuceo, a DEI consulting firm driven by data and rooted in science. Additionally, she is the founder and former head of inclusion and diversity at Forshay, another DEI consulting firm.

Aguilar's research examines how people work together in communities -- how they communicate and connect with others and how people see themselves fitting in, feeling valued and respected, at work. Her research demonstrates how to create a sense of belonging for all individuals in an organization.

She uses a data-driven yet human-centered approach to understanding organizations and loves collaborating with clients to design, execute, and support scientifically grounded diversity strategies.

Aguilar's work has been published in Physics Today, Gender News, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, the Journal of Personality and Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

Aguilar has been featured in Fast Company, Yahoo, HRCI, Top Employer, ZDnet, Popsugar, and the Women in Science Forum. She was named a “40 Under 40” by the San Francisco Business Times, “Top Diversity Influencer” by Culture Amp, and a “Distinguished Emerging Global Leader” by Womensphere.

Aguilar earned her Ph.D. in social psychology at Columbia University and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Stanford University.