Cephoni Jackson’s career represents a natural progression from her early days as a youth activist through 20-plus years in human resources to her position today as the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Sacramento County. Drawing on personal experiences, Jackson knows the need for DEI policies and practices, empathy and compassion, as well as allyship and advocacy. 

Jackson has held numerous HR positions with national and international brands. She took her current role as human resources director in January and now oversees Sacramento County’s DEI program, working with county departments, agencies and the community to champion equity, address barriers and facilitate transformational change. She is also chair of the county’s 23-member DEI cabinet. 

“I grew up in an Arkansas town that was about 70% African American, attended an HBCU and recognized issues of racial division, systemic disadvantages and limited access to resources locally and globally,” says Jackson. “When I started my career as an HR professional, I was typically the only African American female or one of very few. Experiencing that helped me figure out how to get my voice in the room and how to help amplify the voices of others.” 

“I’ve always been involved with aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion and it’s led me to this ideal opportunity to bring my insights and skills to make an impact in Sacramento County.” - Cephoni Jackson, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Jackson is known for developing programs that create access and opportunity for underrepresented groups. Her vision is to help build inclusive leadership capabilities, create a culture of belonging where employees can have deeper conversations about what impacts them, how to improve their experience, and how to better connect to leadership. She also looks forward to building a strong bridge between the county and the community, and continuing to embed inclusion into policies, practices and programs and advance racial equity. 

“I’m driven to be the voice for those without a voice,” she concludes. “I’ve always been involved with aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion and it’s led me to this ideal opportunity to bring my insights and skills to make an impact in Sacramento County.”