about-us.svg

Who we are

We are a full-service strategic DEI consulting partner helping organizations develop and implement innovative diversity and inclusion programs to build more collaborative, engaged and productive workplaces and workforces.

President & CEO

Chief Operating Officer

Chief Welcoming Officer & Office Dog

What we do

With over 30 years of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and human resources practitioner experience, we know what it takes to develop and implement effective DEI programs. We’ve done this work in the real world as employees of large multinational organizations. We’ve successfully diagnosed and overcome internal barriers to executive buy in, resourcing, developing and sustaining DEI programs. We’ve been in your shoes.

Since 2016, we’ve been leveraging our experience and expertise as a strategic DEI consulting partner helping other organizations develop and implement innovative diversity and inclusion programs to build more collaborative, engaged and productive workplaces and workforces. More specifically, our solutions help our clients normalize inclusive behaviors, operationalize equity and build the skills, confidence and plans needed to achieve and sustain successful workforces, workplaces and marketplace outcomes.

We use our signature framework and people-centric tools to deliver innovative and customizable DEI consulting, DEI training, DEI presenting and DEI coaching services to our many business, education, government and non-profit clients.

Our 5th anniversary celebration

In November 2021, we celebrated our 5th anniversary in business! Here are a few highlights from the event.

Diversity
Equity   
Inclusion

What does DEI stand for?

Diversity is about how we see ourselves and others. It’s expressed in many forms including, but not limited to, race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, age, disability status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, religion, ways of thinking and political perspective.

Equity is about being fair. Fairness does not mean equal.

Inclusion is about our behavior toward each other. At the end of the day, human beings are wired to seek a sense of belonging. It’s about making everyone feel, individually and collectively, respected and enabled to do their best work together. It’s about committing to pursuing deliberate efforts to make your organization a place where differences are welcomed, and where diverse perspectives are respectfully considered.

What is a diversity consultant?

Diversity consultants with exceptional skills, knowledge and practitioner experience can help organizations become more diverse, equitable and inclusive through customized DEI training, DEI assessments and DEI strategy development services. When done effectively, execution of these services in a customized fashion helps organizations achieve their respective workforce, workplace and marketplace goals.

Mission      
& Vision

Our Mission: We are a full-service strategic diversity, equity and inclusion partner helping clients build and sustain successful workforces, workplaces and marketplace outcomes through customized and innovative DEI solutions.

Our Vision: To build workplaces and communities that are intentional in their practice and pursuit of greater diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice so that everyone can thrive.

Our core values

  • We leverage our diversity and collaborate to innovate in our work.
  • We are adventurous, creative and open-minded. We empower our clients to succeed now and in the future by providing great solutions for their specific problems.
  • We act with integrity. We are honest and tell you what works and what won’t. We do what we commit to doing. We walk the talk.
  • We are easy to work with. We ensure our processes are user-friendly for our clients. We are at their side, stay in touch, collaborate and respond quickly.
  • We do good – for our clients, team, community and environment.

Our community impact

For many years, Claudia has volunteered her leadership and services within the community. These efforts led to honors and recognition such as the Business Record – Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Woman Business Owner of the Year Award (2023), CITYVIEW Business Journal’s 22 from 2022 Award, Business Record ‘Forty Under 40’ Honoree (2008), Robert D. Ray Iowa Latino Ambassador Award (2010), and the Iowa International Center Passport to Prosperity Award (2014).

Claudia was a commissioner on the City of Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission and now serves on the Iowa Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Council as the Director of Diversity. She also serves on the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Leadership Council, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Region 7 Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board, Business Record’s Racial Equity Advisory Board as well as the boards of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Science Center of Iowa and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

As a woman/minority-owned business that is certified as an Iowa Targeted Small Business (TSB), SBA Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) business, we understand the important role that small businesses play in the community. As a company, we prioritize cultivating a diverse supplier pool as a powerful business tool and a demonstration of our values. 

Through our supplier diversity program, we demonstrate our commitment to proactively identifying, building relationships with, and purchasing goods and services from enterprises owned by people of color, women, persons with disabilities, veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ community who can help us achieve our company objectives. We walk our talk.

Testimonial by Jacquie Easley McGhee

Watch Jacquie share her thoughts on Claudia’s small business journey.

Our strategic partner

Quantum Workplace helps organizations make work better every day by creating a culture of employee success. Their employee success platform empowers organizations to understand and improve employee experience, inspire employee impact, and create a magnetic culture that attracts and retains top talent. Solutions include employee surveys, 1-on-1s, goals, recognition, feedback, talent reviews, succession planning, and the nationally renowned Best Places to Work contest. They partner with thousands of top workplaces on employee success strategies including Fossil, DSW, Panera, Redfin, Getty Images, Forvis, and more.

Our clients

Claudia is the Founder, President and CEO of Schabel Solutions. She’s been on a 20-plus-year mission to raise awareness and consciousness about social justice. Born and raised in Brazil, Claudia lived and worked in Japan for five years prior to moving to the United States and earning a BA in International Relations from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Her approach as a sought-after diversity, equity and inclusion consultant combines over 20 years of DEI and human resources practitioner experience, largely with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, with her international, multicultural background. Her expertise and background positions her to offer impactful consulting, training and coaching services in the areas of DEI and cultural competency. 

Claudia was a commissioner on the City of Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission and now serves on the Iowa Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Council as the Director of Diversity. She also serves on the Grand View University Board of Trustees, the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Leadership Council, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Region 7 Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board, Business Record’s Racial Equity Advisory Board as well as the boards of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Science Center of Iowa and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. 

Her many years of leadership within the community led to honors and recognition such as the Drake University Zimpleman College of Business Women’s Impact Award (2024), Business Record’s List of Business Leaders You Need to Know (2024), Business Record – Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Woman Business Owner of the Year Award (2023), CITYVIEW Business Journal’s 22 from 2022 Award, Business Record ‘Forty Under 40’ Honoree (2008), State of Iowa’s Robert D. Ray Iowa Latino Ambassador Award (2010), and Iowa International Center Passport to Prosperity Award (2014).

Claudia has made Des Moines her home with her spouse and Chief Operating Officer, Brad Schabel, and their always playful English Golden Retriever, Stormy.

Connect on LinkedIn

schabel@schabelsolutions.com

515-423-0793

Brad brings more than 15 years of diversity, equity and inclusion, human resources, compliance, operations and team leadership experience to his current role as Chief Operating Officer of Schabel Solutions. This includes five years of experience managing the Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) and pay equity programs of a Fortune 500 company while helping design, lead, execute and measure the effectiveness of the organization’s overall DEI programs. He has served as a board member of the Equal Employment Advisory Council (now the Center for Workplace Compliance), a national trade association, based in Washington D.C., dedicated to the advancement of practical and effective AA/EEO compliance programs to eliminate workplace discrimination.

Brad lived and worked in Japan for four years and has traveled extensively in North America, South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In addition to his native English, he is proficient in Spanish, Portuguese and conversational Japanese. Brad’s passionate about creating a more socially just, equitable and sustainable world. When not serving clients and managing operations at Schabel Solutions, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, travel, playing tennis and snorkeling – in addition to willingly obeying all commands of Stormy, our Chief Welcoming Officer and Office Dog.

Connect on LinkedIn

brad@schabelsolutions.com

515-419-9574

Stormy, an English Golden Retriever, is passionate about and skilled at retrieving tennis balls on dry land, in snow, mud and bodies of water. By nature, very inclusive, she serves as the company’s Chief Welcoming Officer. Her job-required energetic, welcoming, and playful attitude reminds us of the universal instinct to connect and communicate with others. She typically avoids client calls but her attitude of openness and generosity is nothing to bark about.