By Bianca B. King

This Women’s History Month, we look to those women that are blazing trails right here in the DFW Metroplex. Exceptional leaders who are creating complex histories and legacies while enhancing our community. 

Meet Brittani Hite, Founder + Strategic Director of Ethos Equity Consulting, a social impact firm rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hite, a 35-year-old Dallasite and a new mother, is working tirelessly to promote Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) with her clients, that include AT&T, the City of Dallas, Southern Methodist University (SMU) to name a few to ensure all voices are heard and valued in these spaces and beyond.

Her compassionate and empathetic approach to such historically traumatic issues is genuinely making a positive impact in our city and beyond. I was excited to interview Hite and learn more about her drive and the incredible work she’s doing.

DW: Please tell me a little about your background.

Hite: I’m a graduate of the University of Missouri with degrees in Communication and Business and certified in Leadership Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Northwestern University.

Before launching Ethos Equity Consulting, I gained professional experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. I managed accounts, created marketing campaigns, and managed a portfolio of capital improvement projects ranging from $20MM to $200MM at companies including The Dallas Morning News, Amazon, and KStrategies Group. When working for local 501c3 organizations, I engaged communities to amplify historically marginalized perspectives and catalyze holistic liberation for BIPOC communities. That work established mutual understandings of how equitable processes can support the needs of people and organizations alike.  

DW: Why did you start your business, and who do you serve?

Hite: As I worked through my own healing, it became unmistakably clear that I was seeking validation from people and structures that did not serve me. Instead, they worked to suppress me by ignoring my skills, minimizing my talents, tokenizing me, and silencing my voice. Rather than being discouraged and distressed, I was reassured that all of my experiences collided to shape my uniquely valuable perspectives, reinforcing my path and the creation of Ethos Equity Consulting. I created my social impact firm because I believe every person deserves to feel safe and valued in their spaces. That’s why my work centers around shaking up the status quo. I prioritize authentic, measurable, and anti-racist DEI strategies so individuals, institutions, and initiatives can collectively excel. Our diverse client base includes partnerships with nonprofits, retail brands, tech partners, government municipalities, schools, and education systems. 

DW: What is your definition of success?

Hite: I define success by my ability to maintain my purpose and keep my integrity top-of-mind when establishing partnerships and navigating an industry that is routinely approached superficially. So, if I’m able to work with individuals and institutions who gain the understanding that anti-racism efforts require a lifelong commitment to education and personal growth, and then they actively adjust their thought processes, decision-making, etc. to align, I know I’m helping move the needle towards equity and justice.

DW: What do you believe is your superpower?

Hite: I’ve been told that my superpower is my ability to identify obstacles to justice then build meaningful connections across diverse groups of people to convene common action.

DW: How are you currently giving back to your community?

Hite: I’m currently a member of the Coalition for Neighborhood Self-Determination, whose goal is to combat discriminatory zoning and land-use planning that perpetually impacts the lives of Black and Brown residents while also advocating for the rights of residents through the restoration of policy that prioritizes neighborhood-led land use plans. Additionally, I am on the leadership team for East Dallas Greater Good, whose goal is to unite our neighbors to support a clear vision that allows all East Dallas communities to flourish and prosper. 

DW: As Black women, we are at the forefront of social justice and driving changes. How do you balance the mantle of being a strong Black woman, so you have longevity?

Hite: To stay the course of my anti-racist DEI efforts, I continually revisit my “why,” which is my son. As a parent, you want to forge the best possible path for your kids and protect them from the unpleasant aspects of life. Still, knowing that’s an impossible task, I work to create connections that spark empathy, understanding, healing, and collective liberation. I also prioritize rest because it’s so easy to get burnt out, exhausted, and discouraged from this work. But I find respite when I spend time outdoors, enjoy a delicious meal, take photographs, or indulge in some mindless tv.

DW: How does a utopic DEI space look to you?

Hite: When I think of a utopia as it relates to DEI, I think of an environment where a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, or any other identifying demographic does not define their ability to succeed. Equity is a foundational aspect of decision-making. The environment allows for individuals’ most basic needs to be met, barriers to access are broken, and upward social mobility is not limited to a select few. So simply put, all people can thrive. Food apartheid is non-existent, quality education and healthcare are available, neighborhoods have non-polluted outdoor spaces to gather, and residents have clean air to breathe. However, the actualization of this sort of utopian society requires historical systems that perpetuate racism and oppression to be dismantled.

DW: Who are two Black women leaders past or present you admire and why?

Hite: As a writer, I admire Toni Morrison and how her literature examines identity through a Black lens. Her work is extremely powerful and unapologetically gut-wrenching. I’m also a fan of Stacey Abrams and the progress she promotes. She embodies courageous leadership, and her efforts undoubtedly demonstrated that when human connections are made there’s power in the people — she is a community organizer extraordinaire!  

DW: How can more BIPOC individuals actively perpetuate DEI in their everyday lives?

Hite: Promoting DEI or anti-racism can be a tall task, especially as many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are perpetually battling the burden of oppressive discrimination. That’s why Ethos Equity encourages all people to advocate for fair and just opportunities by using their talents and passions as a guide. People often believe that activism is confined to hitting the streets in protest, but there is diversity in activism. The anti-racism movement can be amplified through fashion, photography, and art in all of its mediums. Not everyone is a born educator, but everyone can make a difference.

DW: One final question, what is your favorite quote or mantra?

Hite: “By confronting our own behaviors toward each other and our misguided expectations, we can tackle the fear and otherness that pit us against one another.” – Stacey Abrams

To connect with Brittani and learn more about her work, visit her website www.ethosequityconsulting.com or follow her on social channels Instagram @ethosequity, LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/brittanihite/,  Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ethosequityconsulting.