Building Belonging & Empowering Voices with Tynae Richardson, Senior Manager of DE&I and Engagement

How We’re Advancing Inclusion at Acrisure

At Acrisure, we live by our commitment: 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable organization that promotes meaningful change, ensuring inclusion, respect, and belonging for all.

As the Senior Manager of DE&I and Engagement, I have the privilege of helping turn those words into action. My role is about more than creating programs; it’s about weaving inclusion and belonging into the very fabric of our people and culture so that every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and every individual feels empowered to thrive. 

Why Inclusion & Belonging Is Everyone’s Work

Inclusion & Belonging is not a single department's job; it’s a collective responsibility. My role is to provide the vision, resources, and pathways that help each one of us contribute to a more inclusive workplace.

The Empowerment Marketplace: Celebrating Community, Driving Change

On July 30, we brought our values to life in an exciting and tangible way with the launch of the 2nd Annual Empowerment Marketplace, hosted by Inclusive Connections.

The vision behind this marketplace was simple yet powerful: to create a space for employees to connect with and support local minority-owned businesses, while enriching our sense of community and cultural exchange. More than 15 incredible vendors joined us in Grand Rapids, Michigan (home of corporate offices), offering everything from handcrafted goods to unique foods, all set against the backdrop of music from a live DJ, photo booth fun, and raffle prizes.

And because inclusion means making sure everyone can participate, we also introduced the Virtual Empowerment Marketplace, a curated shopping list of diverse-owned and operated online retailers, representing a wide range of sectors. This virtual option ensured that our remote employees and colleagues across the United States could engage meaningfully, shop with impact, and show their support for these vibrant businesses from wherever they are.

The marketplace wasn’t just an event, it was a statement. By choosing to engage with diverse entrepreneurs, we’re not only uplifting communities but also reinforcing our belief that inclusion is an economic, cultural, and human investment. 

The Three Pillars of Inclusion: Our Blueprint for Impact

Earlier this year, we introduced the Three Pillars of Inclusion, a guiding framework for how Acrisure approaches Inclusion & Belonging work:

• Engage: We intentionally build a culture where diversity is celebrated, equity is prioritized, and inclusion is a shared responsibility. This means creating opportunities for meaningful connections and dialogue among employees at all levels.
• Empower: We provide the resources, support, and actionable steps needed for conscious inclusion, ensuring every employee feels valued, respected, and confident contributing their unique perspectives.
• Embed: We place Inclusion & Belonging at the core of how we operate, not as a side initiative, but as a value that drives how we interact with colleagues, clients, partners, and our broader communities.

A Unified Approach: Marketplace Meets the Pillars

The Empowerment Marketplace was a perfect example of our Three Pillars in action:

• Engage: We connected employees and business owners in conversations that celebrated culture, identity, and innovation.
• Empower: We gave minority-owned businesses a platform to share their products and stories, while enabling employees to directly support them.
• Embed: We demonstrated that community engagement is not an occasional activity, but part of Acrisure’s ongoing Inclusion & Belonging commitment woven into our business philosophy.

Employee feedback on the event included:

“I enjoyed the variety of vendors! So many different types of businesses to support!”

“I enjoyed getting to know many of my co-workers better.”

What I’m Most Proud of and What’s Next

When I think about our journey so far, I’m most proud of the growing sense of ownership employees feel toward inclusion work at Acrisure. It’s evolved from a “corporate initiative” to a shared mission. The passion I witnessed at the Empowerment Marketplace reaffirmed that we’re building not just a workplace, but a community.

Looking ahead, we’ll deepen our work by expanding inclusive leadership training, focusing on creating spaces and educational opportunities where people feel celebrated for who they are and supported in what they bring. We’re working to create more opportunities for employees to champion Inclusion & Belonging in ways that feel authentic to them.

We’ll also continue forging partnerships with diverse suppliers and community organizations, ensuring that our impact reaches far beyond our walls.

Inclusion Isn’t a Destination; It’s a Daily Practice.

Every conversation, every decision, every action is an opportunity to live our values. It's about embracing the journey to inclusion, belonging, and respect. Everyone deserves respect and desires respect. Together, we can continue building an environment where everyone —employees, partners, and communities — feels seen, valued, and empowered.

About Tynae Richardson

Tynae Richardson, Senior Manager of DEI & Engagement, joined Acrisure in late 2022. She is a seasoned human resources leader with deep experience in organizational development, inclusion and belonging, talent management, and strategic HR initiatives. Tynae excels at aligning people strategies with business objectives to drive growth, culture transformation, engagement, and operational excellence.

About Acrisure

Acrisure is a fintech company on the rise that puts innovative insurance and business solutions into the hands of ambitious businesses and individuals. Join our team to make your next chapter the best one yet. Learn more and explore our open roles.

At Acrisure, we firmly believe that an inclusive workforce drives innovation, creativity, and ultimately, our collective success.

We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. Acrisure also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination.