In addition to being a passionate advocate for EDI, I’m also an agile enthusiast and certified product owner. One of the most valuable aspects of agility is leveraging cross-functionality within a team…what if we expanded the definition to include intercultural competency?
Deyra Jaye Fontaine, Graduate, UBC Micro-certificate in Diversity and Inclusion
For Deyra Jaye, the UBC Micro-certificate in Diversity and Inclusion was more than an academic pursuit; it was a turning point. As a seasoned marketing professional and EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) advocate based in Winnipeg, MB, Deyra Jaye recognizes the critical need to address the systemic issues she observed in her professional life and wanted to inspire meaningful change. Her journey into EDI work began with personal experience, often being categorized as "other" due to her mixed Caribbean and First Nations ancestry. This lived experience ignited a passion for creating spaces where everyone feels valued and included. Within her workplace, she became a grassroots advocate, speaking up on diversity issues and later joining the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Yet, she sought something deeper—not just a way to articulate systemic issues, to move beyond personal storytelling and into systemic transformation. “I found myself grappling with the organizational inequities I observed and it became challenging to explain how they were part of a consistent pattern across different employee groups, not just my own opinion,” Deyra Jaye shares. “I needed a framework to diagnose the issues and the right language to bridge my observations with actionable solutions.”
In 2022, Deyra Jaye enrolled in UBC’s Micro-certificate program, drawn by its comprehensive depth and credibility. "There are many programs offering surface-level diversity training, but UBC's approach required foundational knowledge and offered comprehensive insights. I wanted more than just a quick win," Deyra Jaye explained. The program's flexible 100% online format also made it accessible, allowing her to balance professional commitments while pursuing her studies. Beyond flexibility, the interactive nature of the program, facilitated by expert instructors, fostered meaningful peer discussions and challenged her perspectives. “This program gave me the tools to turn passion into action. I went from championing equity based on lived experience to driving systemic change with the confidence of a structured framework.”
Among the most impactful modules for Deyra Jaye was intercultural communication. “It was a game changer,” she says. “Understanding cultural contexts in communication didn’t just help me professionally; it transformed my personal interactions as well.” Learning about high- and low-context cultures provided her with tools to navigate diverse workplace dynamics and enriched her personal relationships. Deyra Jaye also found intersections between what she was learning about EDI and the role she played in building agile teams. “One of the most valuable aspects of agility is leveraging cross-functionality within a team. Typically, this is viewed in terms of 'hard' skills, but what if we expanded the definition to include intercultural competency? Just as agile teams draw strength from diverse skill sets, they benefit when people bring a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and lived experiences to the table."
Professionally, the program has had a profound impact. At the time of enrollment, Deyra Jaye was a grassroots champion for diversity within her marketing team. Today, as a Customer Experience Manager, she applies program frameworks to ensure organizational practices reflect and respect the diversity of their customer base. Tools like the “phases of a multicultural organization” and the “model for managing complex change” have become integral to her work, allowing her to introduce measurable, systemic improvements to equity initiatives.
“The micro-certificate gave me not just the tools, but the confidence to drive change,” Deyra Jaye reflects. “It’s no longer just about passion—it’s about sustainable, impactful action.” For prospective students, Deyra Jaye offers this advice, "If you're committed to systemic change and want the tools to back up your advocacy with real strategies, this program is worth the investment. It challenges you to think critically and equips you with the frameworks needed to influence meaningful shifts in your organization."
Determined to deepen her impact, Deyra Jaye continues to share resources and champion equity and inclusion both at work and in her volunteer efforts. Whether through her contributions to the Indigenous Employee Resource Group, her advocacy as a steering committee member at People of Colour in Advertising and Marketing (POCAM) or her leadership in customer experience, she remains unwavering in her mission: to create spaces where everyone feels valued, respected and like they belong.