Carissa Begonia is a highly accomplished business consultant, coach, and entrepreneur with a mission to foster personal and professional growth for individuals and corporations alike. With an educational background that includes a Certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, a Certificate in Image Consulting and Styling from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and a BS in Marketing, Finance, and Communication from the University at Buffalo School of Management, Begonia has built an impressive portfolio of leadership roles in the retail industry.

Begonia's career highlights include serving as the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Zappos Family of Companies, where she founded and led Women Empowered, a women's empowerment group. She was also a Merchandise Planning Manager at 6pm.com Division and a Senior Planner at Saks Off 5th. Adding to her impressive background, Begonia is also the co-founder of AARISE (Asian American Racialized Identity and Social Empowerment) and the lead of her venture, Consciousxchange, where she empowers BIPOC professionals and white allies to pursue values-aligned careers and establish purpose-driven businesses that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Begonia is a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, and her extensive experience in leadership, diversity, and inclusion initiatives equips her with a strong understanding of the challenges that organizations and individuals face while pursuing their goals. With her expertise, Begonia helps her clients to confidently start and sustainably grow businesses, land new jobs, or leadership roles that align with their values, and launch initiatives that advocate for racial equity and social justice.