Stoyan Francis

"I had the opportunity to work with Stoyan at the Oregon Lottery, where she played an important role in strengthening and advancing our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts.

She brought structure and consistency to the work by developing policies, processes and practices that helped embed DEIB more internationally across the organization. She worked closely with executives and leaders, providing guidance, bringing forward different perspectives, and helping translate DEIB priorities into practical actions.

What I appreciated most about Stoyan was her ability to take ideas and turn them into sustainable practices. She identified gaps, developed solutions, and worked collaboratively with leaders and teams to move the work forward.

I would recommend Stoyan for a senior DEIB leadership role. She brings strong knowledge, sound judgment, the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, and a genuine commitment to creating an inclusive workplace."

"Stoyan’s contributions to LGBT Detroit spanned nearly a decade, from leading university and diversity recruitment as a project manager to continuing that work in a contract capacity through 2023. She identified new systems for sourcing talent and partners across Metro Detroit and built pipelines that strengthened the organization long after she moved on. In development, that same instinct showed up as an ability to see how relationships, data, and mission fit together — and to make the case for our work in a way that moved people to act. Nowhere was that clearer than Hotter Than July, where she was a driving force behind the fundraising effort. She cultivated sponsors, coordinated the moving pieces of a signature community event, and kept the team focused on both the mission and the numbers. The result was an event that celebrated Black LGBTQ+ Detroit and delivered for the organization’s bottom line.

What I valued most was how she showed up as a teammate. She listened before she spoke, honored every commitment, and brought a steady, generous presence to a department where the pressure is constant. She made the team better.

Stoyan has since gone on to lead inclusion work at RDP Consulting and co-found Teen Tech Titans, and none of that surprises me. She is exactly the kind of person you want building something with you. I recommend her without hesitation."

"Excellent leadership abilities and talents, creative problem solver and a good person all around!"