Ulysses J. Smith is a diversity, equity and inclusion strategist with extensive experience creating high-impact inclusion strategies in the tech industry and higher education. Much of his career centers on participatory governance structures and creating access to institutions and decision-making processes for underserved and underrepresented groups.

Through his private firm, Archetype, he has consulted with organizations throughout New York State and the San Francisco Bay Area including Airbnb, Gusto, Genentech, Electronic Arts, and the NYC Human Resources Administration. He is the Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader at Blend, the digital mortgage technology provider, where he focuses on creating and implementing a global workforce DEI strategy for the high-growth organization. Prior to Blend, he served as the Head of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity for Mixpanel, a San Francisco-based user analytics startup. Smith previously served in various leadership roles at Cornell University—including Lead Diversity & Inclusion Strategist and Director for Special Projects, Innovation & Strategic Engagement—overseeing the institution’s diversity strategy and focusing on innovative engagement of the changing workforce. Smith is a graduate of Cornell University, earning concurrent degrees in both Urban & Regional Studies and Government.