Walking the Gritty Walk

Erika Schenk is driving meaningful changes both in and outside the corporate world as a legal eagle, ardent advocate, prolific public speaker, and now, a published author. 

This Class of 1990 Alumna may be making waves as General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Compliance and Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) of World Wide Technology (WWT), but her passion for championing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has not only ignited a sense of purpose but also inspires those around her.

"I've always enjoyed being part of an organization and contributing to the development of others. In my company, I was previously in a leadership role for our Pride employee resource group, ERG, and now I’m in a similar role for our women’s ERG, called LEAD,” Erika tells of her advocacy roles at WWT. “I like helping people grow into the professionals they aspire to be. When I started out in my career, I often felt isolated and unsure of how to achieve my goals. It was a lonely and challenging experience. Now, I’m in a position where I can support others, reach back into the organization, and help guide people along their paths."

One of her latest contributions can be found in Tenacity: The Deconstructing G.R.I.T. Collection, the fourth book of an anthology series by Jennifer Bardot. In it, Erika is one of 40 writers aiming to empower women by sharing their stories of achieving personal success through resilience, grit, and determination. 

"I wanted to create hope by having leaders unveil their stories, making obstacles seem more surmountable and helping others feel less alone,” Jennifer explains, adding that she knew without a doubt that Erika would be a powerful addition to Tenacity. "I definitely wanted her in this book. I had seen all the awards that she had won and just how she showed up in the community. Another big thing for me is, there's a lot of people who have these great titles and these incredible roles that they've achieved, but they actually don't walk the walk. Erika absolutely walks the walk." 

Erika’s dedication to DEI has not gone unnoticed. She has been honored with several prestigious awards, including from the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), an American organization dedicated to helping women who are vulnerable to violence “and need to improve their situation”.

“This includes women facing poverty, domestic abuse, and other difficult circumstances. The organization provides various resources for women in these challenging situations, whether financially, physically, or both,” Erika explains. 

Each year, the YWCA of the St. Louis region in Missouri selects eight women to honor for their commitment to community and social justice. 

“Being selected by them is one of the honors I am most proud of because I know how discerning they are in their selection process. I was really surprised and humbled to be included among the other remarkable women in my class.”

Erika has also received the Women in Justice Award, which is focused on women making a difference in the legal community in her home state of Missouri. Though she works in the corporate world, this award recognizes that even those in the private sector have the ability to influence and help others. 

“We can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as leadership and advancement for women and people of color.”

Looking back at her eight years at JIS, Erika can undoubtedly say that her experience gave her a major advantage in life after graduation as “JIS kids tend to develop a bit more resilience than the average person”.

To the newest graduating Class of 2024 Dragons, she urges them to be accepting of the people who are different; who might speak a different language, have a different culture, or offer a different perspective.

“Remember to say hello to the new kid who just came in and doesn't know anyone. It all circles back to supporting and empowering each other."

Are you an award winner? Do you know someone whose achievements we should be celebrating with our Dragon Community? We would love to hear from you: alumni@jisedu.or.id