Leadership
Dr. Shirley Knowles
Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer
In her role as Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Dr. Shirley Knowles is dedicated to cultivating a culture of inclusion, diversity and belonging so Progress people are empowered to be their best. Shirley sees her work at Progress as equipping our people to achieve by tapping into the richness of diverse human experiences.
A transformational leader and educator, Shirley strives to positively impact the way people think, interact and collaborate across cultural, generational, racial, gender, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious and educational lines. She is a crucial voice influencing our policies, practices, and indeed, everything we do. Shirley further helps Progress foster an environment where people are free to learn, be heard and have the difficult—but respectful—conversations that make us stronger. This approach nurtures growth and has brought Shirley noteworthy success, most recently as the Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Homesite Insurance. There, she built the D&I practice from the ground up, adding to prior successes in cultural diversity education at Le Cordon Bleu and corporate communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
With her team-first approach, it’s no surprise that Shirley is a HUGE sports fan. She regularly attends in-person sporting events, both professional and collegiate, including for one of her favorite teams, the Atlanta Braves. When not cheering sports, she travels the world to learn about other cultures, visiting locations as varied as Cuba, Egypt, Guadeloupe and her favorite spot: Norway.
Shirley’s impressive educational background includes her doctor of education in organizational leadership from Northeastern University, a master degree in leadership studies from North Central College and dual master degrees from Simmons College in gender/cultural Studies, as well as communications management. Shirley earned her bachelor degree in communications from Marquette University, and a certificate in multicultural leadership from North Central College. She regularly supports a range of causes, including To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit assisting people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
Dr. Shirley Knowles
Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer
In her role as Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Dr. Shirley Knowles is dedicated to cultivating a culture of inclusion, diversity and belonging so Progress people are empowered to be their best. Shirley sees her work at Progress as equipping our people to achieve by tapping into the richness of diverse human experiences.
A transformational leader and educator, Shirley strives to positively impact the way people think, interact and collaborate across cultural, generational, racial, gender, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious and educational lines. She is a crucial voice influencing our policies, practices, and indeed, everything we do. Shirley further helps Progress foster an environment where people are free to learn, be heard and have the difficult—but respectful—conversations that make us stronger. This approach nurtures growth and has brought Shirley noteworthy success, most recently as the Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Homesite Insurance. There, she built the D&I practice from the ground up, adding to prior successes in cultural diversity education at Le Cordon Bleu and corporate communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
With her team-first approach, it’s no surprise that Shirley is a HUGE sports fan. She regularly attends in-person sporting events, both professional and collegiate, including for one of her favorite teams, the Atlanta Braves. When not cheering sports, she travels the world to learn about other cultures, visiting locations as varied as Cuba, Egypt, Guadeloupe and her favorite spot: Norway.
Shirley’s impressive educational background includes her doctor of education in organizational leadership from Northeastern University, a master degree in leadership studies from North Central College and dual master degrees from Simmons College in gender/cultural Studies, as well as communications management. Shirley earned her bachelor degree in communications from Marquette University, and a certificate in multicultural leadership from North Central College. She regularly supports a range of causes, including To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit assisting people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.