Elliot Francis
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer | Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Elliott Francis is a Senior Executive in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Over his professional career Elliott has advised and worked alongside business leaders to develop, implement, and execute equity, diversity & inclusion strategies, aimed at achieving organizational success. In his current role as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations, Elliott provides leadership and drives change through the development and implementation of strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives in the life sciences industry. Among myriad efforts, Elliott works closely with the Board of Directors to accelerate gender, racial, ethnic and LGBTQ representation on biotech company boards, in C-suites and in functional leadership positions, and also leads the BIOEquality Agenda; a national effort led by BIO in collaboration with our partners and member organizations in the biotechnology sector that aims to counteract the systemic inequality, injustice, and unfair treatment of underserved communities.
Previously at Booz Allen Hamilton, an international management consulting firm, Elliott led the development, implementation, and management of an enterprise-wide Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Partnering Program across 40 business units, which resulted in:
- Expanding the firm’s reach to highly talented professionals in diverse communities,
- Providing access to professional development opportunities for its staff and,
- Increasing Booz Allen Hamilton’s diversity & inclusion brand in the federal consulting space
In the federal government, Elliott’s work has focused on ensuring the linkage between diversity & inclusion initiatives to federal strategic goals and objectives. At the National Science Foundation (NSF), he led the agency-wide Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Action Planning and Employee Engagement Initiative mandated by Executive Order 13583. At the Department of Treasury (IRS) Elliott was responsible for integrating agency-wide human capital programs with diversity & inclusion initiatives, and served as the Acting Director, Diversity Strategy Division (DSD) as well as the Acting Director, Measures Analysis Reports Section (MARS) within the Equity Diversity & Inclusion Office. At the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Elliott conducted enterprise workforce planning within the Human Capital Office and led the Workforce Inclusion Recruitment Engagement & Diversity (WIRED) cross functional team aimed at creating the most positive experience for the entire workforce through the various stages of the employee lifecycle.
Elliott received his BA in Sociology from Middlebury College and holds numerous Professional Diversity & Inclusion, Project Management, and Human Capital Certifications from Georgetown University, Cornell University, and the Human Capital Institute.
Elliott was born and raised in Harlem, New York City, and lives in northern, VA with his wife of 17 years, their two children, and their huge 5-year-old Newfoundland dog, Onyx. Elliott is a Certified Krav Maga (Israeli Self-Defense Fighting System) Instructor and regularly trains children and adults to help them achieve their highest level of esteem.
