Dr. Veronica Appleton, Ph.D. is a business executive, scholar, practitioner, children’s author and co-founder of Candidly Connecting, a diversity education firm providing belonging education for parents, caregivers and educators. Currently, Dr. Appleton serves as Publicis Media’s U.S. SVP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Appleton has lectured for DePaul University College of Communication and facilitated Northwestern University Weinberg School of Arts & Sciences Executive Education Program in Racial Equity in Business, also leading as head facilitator for Yale University’s Women in Leadership Executive Education program. She’s also a certified diversity professional. Most recently, she served as VP, Talent Management & Workplace Belonging at Omnicom’s The Marketing Arm.
As a renowned speaker, Dr. Appleton has served as keynote and curriculum designer for some of the world's largest Fortune 500 organizations and believes educating the future is an essential strategy for building equity in communities and systems at-large. Dr. Appleton's work has been recognized by Crain’s Business, FOX News, and Diversity Journal’s Top Professionals in Higher Education. She's also a mentor and board member of several nonprofits providing resources and impact in communities of color, women, men and children.
Of all her career accolades, Dr. Appleton is a giver of her time to the community. She currently serves as Task Force Member within DePaul University’s Addressing the Vincentians’ Relationship with Slavery Committee, a Board Member for the Chicago Foundation for Women Southside Giving Circle, and a Board of Directors for Bernie’s Book Bank and the Chicago Advertising Federation. Outside of work, Dr. Appleton is also a children’s author and reading literacy advocate.
Dr. Appleton completed her undergraduate education at Purdue University (2010), graduate education at DePaul University (2013), and doctoral education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2022).
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