My story

Portrait of Falisha Karpati

I’m Falisha Karpati, PhD (she/her/elle), a neuroscientist turned diversity and inclusion professional. I’m on a mission to build spaces where everyone’s unique identities, ideas, and ways of thinking can fuel leading-edge discoveries and innovation.

Change, creative ideas, and experimentation energize me. I’m driven by curiosity to understand why individuals think and behave in the ways that they do, and how that’s influenced by their personal and professional environments.

My pursuit of this understanding led me to see that many spaces where we study and work are conceived by and for select privileged groups, and are based on restrictive definitions of success. I’m determined to change that. We’re ready for a world built for all of us to flourish.

Dark background with blue, pink and yellow neon arrows pointing up to the right.

Consulting

I’ve been an independent Inclusion Consultant since early 2021. During this time, I’ve worked with over 20 organizations on assessments, action plans, and training. My work has impacted teams and projects across universities, research institutes, healthcare organizations, tech companies, and more. A few of my recent accomplishments include:

My consulting practice combines my strengths in equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy along with my experience in professional development training, neuroscience research, science communication, and arts.

Previous work

Before launching my consulting practice, I worked at McGill University facilitating equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and teaching. From 2018 to 2020, I held the positions of Program Officer and then Training and Equity Advisor for Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL), a $91 million government-funded neuroscience research initiative at McGill. I drove the growth and implementation of HBHL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. I conducted needs assessments, determined objectives, led training sessions, and guided policy change related to recruitment, funding, and inclusive activities.

At HBHL, as well as in previous positions at McGill’s Teaching and Learning Services, I designed and facilitated training on inclusive leadership, accessible science communication, active learning, and public speaking. In addition, I created content for McGill’s graduate supervision website, mentored local and international trainees, and managed promotional strategies for skill-building opportunities.

Education and research

I hold a PhD in neuroscience from McGill University (2017), an Honours BSc in neuroscience and psychology from the University of Toronto (2012), and a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University (2021).

My doctoral research focused on brain structure in dancers and musicians. I have also contributed to studies on music training and the aging brain, quality of life in individuals with chronic illness, and intervention assessments for children with cerebral palsy. The knowledge of how our brains function gained through my research and in-depth training in diverse fields of neuroscience is integrated throughout my approach to diversity and inclusion.

I’m passionate about making research accessible and engaging for all. My research is shared in peer-reviewed journal articles and public media (e.g., Savoir Média, 3-Minute Thesis and PapaPhD). To spread the love for brains across the Montreal community, I’ve designed and taught neuroscience classes to elementary school children through BrainReach. Most recently, I’ve focused on creating public content on the neuroscience of inclusion.

A rainbow waterfall with red on top and blue on the bottom.

Art

Before I was a scientist, I was an artist. I grew up with training in classical piano and music theory. I’m trained in jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop dance, and am known to bring out the moves anywhere there’s music (grocery store included). Recently, I’ve focused on travel and landscape photography and have had photos published by Reader’s Digest and Canadian Geographic.

One of my earliest jobs was as an art instructor for children with and without disabilities, from various backgrounds, and with many different identities. The imagination, originality, and collaborative energy cultivated in those spaces as a result of inclusive and accessible programming is something I have strived to bring into all my endeavours since.

Open road going into the horizon surrounded by green grass and a cloudy sky.

Fusion

Ten years designing and leading inclusive programming.
Ten years conducting research and assessments.
Five years mentoring rising leaders and driving strategy development.
Five years making science accessible.
Two neuroscience degrees.
An abundance of creativity and openness.
Determination to build a world where we can all achieve greatness.

It all led me here.

Let’s work together to create spaces where all brains can thrive.