Webinar Facilitator: Naika Thomas - RN, BscN, MPH
Health Equity Specialist
In today’s economy, job hunting is challenging — and even more so for Black and racialized employees facing systemic racism and discrimination.
This session begins with a brief historical overview of how racism and bias have shaped hiring practices, before moving into practical strategies you can apply today. You’ll learn the five biggest mistakes interviewees make — and how to avoid them — alongside five proven best practices from years of panel experience.
Together, we’ll explore how to fully represent your skills, lived experience, and confidence in interviews.
What You’ll Learn
How systemic racism and bias continues to shape hiring practices
The five most common interview mistakes and how to avoid them
Five proven best practices, including how to take up space and owning your story
How to showcase your skills, lived experience, and confidence in interviews
Opportunities for additional 1:1 coaching and supports following the session
Who is this Session for
Indigenous, Black, or Racialized professional
Emerging leader or mid-career professional
Person preparing for upcoming interviews
Individual who has experienced biased hiring processes
Professional looking to step into higher-paying, higher-impact roles
What Makes This Webinar Different
Delivered by me, a Health Equity Specialist
Strategies designed recognizing the lived experiences of Black and Racialized employees
Safe, empowering learning environment
Practical and immediately actionable guidance
Meet the Facilitator:
I’m Naïka Thomas, a Health Equity Specialist and the founder of QueensConnected, where I lead community-centered initiatives focused on equity, wellness, and empowerment.
With over a decade of experience in public health and health equity leadership, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to guide participants in building confidence and navigating bias in interviews.
I am regularly invited to join interview panels, where I contribute my expertise on equity and leadership — further amplifying my voice as a trusted leader in the field.
What Past Participants Are Saying
“Attending the Interview Best Practices for Black and Racialized webinar was a truly valuable experience. As someone who was in a temporary role and didn’t always feel confident in interviews, it helped me understand what panelists are really looking for in strong answers. It was especially empowering to attend as a Black woman—sometimes it can feel like we can’t draw on our lived experiences in interviews, and this session reminded me that we absolutely can. It also gave me practical strategies for weaving those experiences into my responses. I highly recommend it!
Additionally working with Naika is always a positive experience. She listens attentively, validates your concerns, and creates a space where you feel genuinely seen. She also shared helpful, personalized tips that strengthened the way I approach and structure my interview answers. Thanks in large part to this guidance and preparation, I was able to successfully obtain a permanent position.” - Hodan
“Working with Naïka on my interview preparation was truly outstanding. She has a natural gift for building confidence and helping you recognize your own strengths. Naïka asked thoughtful, reflective questions that encouraged me to dig deeper and articulate my experience more clearly. She took the time to walk through my examples with me and provided clear, practical feedback on how to maximize my points in my organization’s interview process.
Thanks to her guidance, I felt more prepared, more assured, and better equipped to showcase my positive traits. I’m grateful for her support and highly recommend her to anyone looking to excel in their interviews.” - Melissa
Join the Waitlist
Joining the waitlist gives you exclusive early-bird pricing before tickets are released to the public.