My name is Dr. Rachael Mahmood. I am an equity consultant, teacher trainer, and the CEO of Equity Teacher Leader, LLC, as well as a practicing classroom teacher in Indian Prairie School District 204. In 2024, I was honored to be named Illinois State Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Throughout the 2024–2025 school year, I have had the privilege of providing professional development for over 120 school districts, educational organizations, regional offices of education, and conferences across the state. My work focuses on creating inclusive and equitable learning environments through culturally relevant instruction, dialogue facilitation, implicit bias awareness, multicultural curriculum design, and strategies for engaging diverse families in education.
World Café Session for Educators: Preparing Business Students for a Diverse Workforce

This World Café session is designed specifically for educators working with middle school, high school, and university students who are preparing to enter the business world. The session aims to deepen understanding of how personal identity, privilege, and systems of power influence student experiences—and how educators can better support all learners in navigating and succeeding within a diverse and evolving workforce.

This session creates a space for educators to listen, connect, and collaborate across grade levels and institutions. Together, we will reflect on how we are preparing future business leaders not only to succeed, but to lead with equity, cultural awareness, and the ability to navigate and transform systems.

World Cafe Questions:

How can we, as educators, better prepare business students to thrive in a diverse and equitable workforce?