In this enlightening and entertaining episode of What's in the SOSS, host Yesenia Yser sits down with DEI strategist, social psychologist, and Star Wars superfan Dr. Eden-Reneé Hayes. From her academic roots to her entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Hayes shares how diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) drive sustainable growth—and how she found inspiration for her TED Talk in the wisdom of Yoda. The two discuss the myths around DEIA, how the Jedi Council reflects ideal collaboration, and why unlearning old beliefs is key to progress. Plus, stay for the rapid-fire questions and discover if Dr. Hayes is more Marvel or DC. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:30 – Career Journey 03:10 – Navigating DEIA in Today’s Landscape 07:49 – TED Talk Inspiration: Star Wars & DEI 11:31 – The TED Experience 13:12 – The TED Talk Message 14:38 – Favorite Yoda Quote 16:34 – Rapid Fire Round 18:37 – Final Thoughts 19:10 – Outro Episode links: Dr. Eden-Reneé Hayes LinkedIn Dr. Eden-Reneé Hayes Ted Talk: Yoda's Jedi Mind Tricks for Rethinking DEI | TEDxWaldenPond Join the BEAR Working Group Get involved with the OpenSSF Subscribe to the OpenSSF newsletter Follow the OpenSSF on LinkedIn
