Health and Wellness
Founded by a Black woman, this company uses realistic AI-powered simulations to enhance inclusive leadership training
Businesswoman smiling during video conference with headphones. Multiracial female and male professionals take part in a web-based meeting. They discuss business strategy.
Efforts to ensure inclusivity within the workplace have come under attack as DEI continues to be subject to disinvestment. But one progressive company led by Black women is making strides in helping employers create more culturally competent work environments.
Praxis Laboratories, a platform that goals to provide workplace tools for higher-performing teams, recently announced the launch of a recent GenAI-powered program that uses realistic simulations to support inclusive practices. According to the company,
“In a year marked by polarizing discussions and unprecedented uncertainty, mastering inclusive leadership skills has become imperative for leaders and organizations to thrive,” said Elise Smith, co-founder and CEO of Praxis Labs, in a press release shared with ESSENCE. “The new experiences and skills within Pivotal Practice will help current and future leaders benefit from personalized and high-impact training that will push the boundaries in both social inclusion and business performance.”
As previously reported by ESSENCE, the company raised a $15.5 million Series A round in 2021 to help clients higher train employees and measure diversity and inclusion (D&I) through research-backed VR experiences. The diverse group of investors, led by Norwest Venture Partners and Emerson Collective, also included Penny Jar Capital (assigned by Steph Curry), Concrete Rose Capital, SoftBank’s SB Opportunity Fund, Ulu Ventures, Precursor Ventures and Firework Ventures.
“As complex conversations and diverse perspectives continue, harnessing the power of AI-powered immersive learning is key to closing critical skill gaps in areas such as inclusion, management and communication,” said Heather Shen, co-founder and CPO of Praxis Labs. “By leveraging Praxis Labs technology to deepen humanity in the workplace, we can unlock the limitless potential for collaboration, innovation and, ultimately, organizational success.”