Our New York Happy Hour on April 2nd brought together an incredible group of people for an evening of connection, conversation, and shared learning. It was a night filled with thoughtful dialogue, fresh perspectives, and meaningful moments, made even better by the opportunity to hear directly from Mira Shane and Liz Llewelyn-Jones during our fireside chat, all while enjoying great food from our sponsors Green Top Farms at Industrious, Hudson Yards.

We were lucky to be joined by two inspiring leaders who brought unique perspectives and experiences to the conversation:

Liz Llewelyn-Jones brings a global perspective to employee engagement and executive communications. As Head of Employee Engagement, Americas & Executive Comms Partner to the CDO at Ørsted, she leads initiatives that strengthen workplace culture while shaping how leadership connects with employees at scale. With a career spanning both the U.S. and the U.K., Liz has worked across brand strategy, partnerships, and communications, including leading major corporate and cultural collaborations at institutions like the Natural History Museum. Her cross-functional approach and thoughtful leadership style offer valuable insight into building organizations that are not only aligned, but deeply connected and resilient.

Mira Shane is a storyteller and community builder focused on creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered. At Justworks, she drives Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives, bringing both strategy and heart to her work. A biracial and queer human, Mira’s perspective is shaped by her background in African American Studies and Law, Justice & Social Change, as well as her experience as a collegiate athlete at the University of Michigan. Beyond her corporate work, she is a DJ, poet, and yoga teacher based in Brooklyn, and contributes to Miracle Consulting, facilitating high-energy, honest conversations that foster connection and growth.

Question 1: What does “belonging” actually mean in practice—not as a concept, but as something you can design for?

For Mira Shane, belonging is something you actively design for by listening to real, everyday employee experiences. Rather than reacting to one-off feedback, she emphasizes identifying shared patterns across underrepresented groups and making thoughtful, systemic changes—from workplace accommodations to more inclusive design. Ultimately, she reframes belonging as building genuine community, grounded in honest conversations and actions that make people feel seen.

For Liz Llewelyn-Jones, belonging is built through layers—starting with strong team leadership that creates psychological safety, ensures every voice is heard, and fosters openness. She highlights the power of bringing people together, whether through in-person gatherings, grassroots activities, or shared experiences that connect employees to each other and the company’s purpose. At its core, she emphasizes visible, human leadership, where leaders show up, engage authentically, and build real connections that make people feel included and valued.

Question 2: How does internal communication shape employee experience more than people realize?

For Liz Llewelyn-Jones, internal communications is deeply intertwined with employee experience—shaping every touchpoint employees have with a company, from events to leadership messaging. She highlights how real-time feedback from engagement moments helps refine communications, making them more relevant, authentic, and impactful.

Building on that, Mira Shane emphasizes the importance of having clear ownership and alignment in how communication is delivered. When done well, it creates transparency, helps employees better understand what’s happening across the business, and ultimately strengthens connection and trust. She points to platforms like Epoch as game-changing in creating a centralized space for communication—giving employees greater visibility into what’s happening across the business while strengthening transparency, alignment, and trust.

Question 3: You’ve built DEI strategy in both early-stage and scaling environments—what’s the first thing you prioritize when trying to embed belonging into a company?

For Mira Shane, embedding belonging starts with meeting people where they are—regardless of company size. From early-stage teams to scaling organizations, she prioritizes listening to feedback, creating multiple ways for employees to connect (from ERGs to events and digital spaces), and ensuring global teams feel seen and included. As companies grow, she emphasizes the importance of transparency and managing expectations—leading with honesty while continuing to advocate for what employees need.

Question 4: Can you expand on the AI enablement programming you introduced—what it is, how it’s been going, and what you’re seeing so far?”

For Mira Shane, AI enablement starts with energy and accessibility. Through initiatives like “Vibe with AI,” she focused on meeting employees at all levels—breaking down complex concepts into approachable, foundational learning while creating excitement around adoption. The result: a strong baseline understanding across the company, with most employees feeling confident engaging with AI tools.

She also notes that the work is ongoing—what started as education is now evolving into deeper innovation as the pace of AI accelerates. Adding to that, Liz Llewelyn-Jones highlights the growing curiosity around AI’s potential, especially in communications, where teams are just beginning to explore how it can enhance and optimize their work.

Question 5: How do you navigate leadership misalignment or lack of buy-in?

For Liz Llewelyn-Jones, leadership alignment starts with visibility and genuine connection. She highlights how proactive, people-first leadership—like spending time in offices, hosting informal Q&As, and engaging directly with employees—can quickly build trust and strengthen engagement. When leaders show up authentically from the start, it sets the tone for a more connected, aligned organization.

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‍Missed out? Join us on April 22nd for our Roadshow Recap: Takeaways and Learnings

Listen to the full audio here: (insert youtube link)

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Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the evening so special. And if you’re looking to experience conversations like this, on an even bigger scale, join us at Epoch Connect next month. Learn more here

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