Yoda, DEI, and the Jedi Council: A Conversation with Dr. Eden-Reneé Hayes

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