Melonie D. Parker, Google's chief diversity officer (CD) and 2014 Women of Color Special Recognition honoree, shared insights at the Rolling Out Peace and Purpose Retreat & Virtual conference on Saturday, December 4. During the event, she spoke about her role as CDO and global director of employee engagement at Google, mentoring, her alma mater, Hampton University, and much more.

Creme of Nature, McDonald’s, Acorns, Georgia Power, BlackBookstore.com, rolling out and others hosted the first Peace and Purpose conference this weekend. The Peace and Purpose virtual conference covered crucial topics, including emotional stability, financial education, generational wealth, exercise, healthy eating habits, prayer and meditation.

Parker also spoke more in a Rolling Out interview on how she became CDO at Google, her responsibilities, and how graduates should approach the world and tech.

"I have two Hampton graduates out of my three children, and how I would answer that is by saying, go where you’re embraced and look for how you add value. Know the industry that you’re going into, and really understand the value that you bring. I think sometimes when we’re in underrepresented groups, and when I think about being a Black woman, we quite naturally look for areas where we fit in, but I think that’s a misnomer. We need to look at where do we add, and we need to know that we are the special sauce. We’re trading on ourselves and on our talent, and I think if more graduates understood the value that they bring and that they are the asset, it would help with how we interview, how we showcase our talent, and how we really talk about those accomplishments. Then, always overdeliver."