Tiffany Yu | CEO and Founder | Diversability
Tiffany Yu is a trailblazer in disability advocacy, serving as the CEO and Founder of Diversability, a distinguished social enterprise dedicated to fostering disability pride and empowerment. Diversability, with a vibrant community of over 80,000 members, aims to build disability power and advance disability leadership. Additionally, Tiffany founded the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, which has distributed $89.5k in micro-grants to 90 disability projects across 13 countries. She is also the author of “The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World,” set to release on October 8, 2024 by Hachette Go during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October). Tiffany’s journey began in investment banking. After studying finance and accounting at Georgetown University, she interned at UBS and Goldman Sachs before starting her career in finance. She later worked at Bloomberg Television and REVOLT Media & TV. Tiffany’s TED Talk, “How to Help Employees with Disabilities Thrive,” has garnered over one million views. Her work has been featured in prominent publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Forbes. We at EliteX, are proud to introduce Tiffany Yu as one of the Impactful CEOs: Making a Difference, 2024.
“Despite the glamor often associated with being a CEO, I remain hands-on, handling tasks such as categorizing expenses and editing social media graphics.”
Her career took a pivotal turn when she decided to focus on Diversability full-time. Initially a side project, Diversability became Tiffany’s primary focus after she was let go from a previous role. She was inspired to pursue this path to see more visible disabled leaders and to have a meaningful impact within the disability community. Tiffany, as a disabled Asian woman, navigates a complex intersection of oppression, including misogyny, ableism, and racism. She is committed to creating opportunities and pathways for other disabled individuals. Tiffany defines her leadership style as direct and growth-oriented, with a strong focus on the development of her team. She emphasizes pushing team members into their “stretch zone”—challenging yet manageable—to foster their growth without overwhelming them. This approach has contributed to her success and made Diversability a pioneering organization in disability advocacy. Tiffany’s leadership values include creating a company that she wished existed when she was younger, which means supporting her team and maintaining a flexible, remote-first work environment. Diversability adapts to opportunities and creates solutions where none exist, such as hosting events and creating recognition lists that highlight disability leadership globally.
One significant challenge Tiffany Yu faced as CEO was adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, Diversability had not heavily invested in digital platforms. The shift to virtual events was a major hurdle. Tiffany and her team used the time to rethink their approach and, with support from the Meta Community Accelerator Program, they successfully transitioned to virtual events. Their first online event took place in November 2020. Since then, Diversability has hosted virtual events weekly, significantly expanding their reach. Despite initial struggles, including exploring various grant opportunities and financial aid, the transition ultimately led to a fourfold growth in their operations. The shift to virtual programming allowed them to connect with a broader audience beyond their traditional in-person focus.
To stay ahead in a competitive market, Diversability focuses on staying informed about disability-related news and trends. They have expanded into new areas, such as incorporating disability inclusion into corporate equity initiatives. This includes partnering with companies to provide speakers from their Diversability Leadership Collective and launching a membership community that has generated nearly $40,000 in paid opportunities for its members. Tiffany’s upcoming book, “The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World,” published by Hachette Book Group is another way she aims to scale her impact, reaching a wider audience through corporate presentations and media engagements. Tiffany is also excited by the innovative solutions emerging from the disability community, collaborating with them to address barriers and create new opportunities.
Tiffany prioritizes work-life balance by setting clear boundaries. She tries not to work on weekends, or if necessary, ensures that one weekend day is work-free. She schedules specific days for meetings and others for focused work without meetings. Recently, after moving to Los Angeles, Tiffany makes time to attend social events and catch up with friends. Her decision to become an entrepreneur was driven by a desire for more control over her schedule. This flexibility has allowed her to pursue personal interests, like completing her first triathlon, and fully enjoy her new city. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are central to Diversability’s mission. The organization is committed to ensuring intersectional disability representation, prioritizing voices from BIPOC disabled individuals, and ensuring diverse demographics are represented in their events and opportunities. Tiffany believes that DEI is at the heart of their work, guiding their practices and selection processes.
“The more people that we can support on their shame to pride transformation around a disability identity, the more of us can have our voices out there and be strong advocates and champions for disability inclusion.”
Sustainability is a core value for Diversability. As a remote-first organization, they avoid the environmental impact of commuting and focus on making work accessible through digital means. Virtual events reduce resource use, and their asynchronous communication model supports various engagement preferences. Tiffany and her team aim to maintain these practices, ensuring their operations contribute positively to sustainability while enabling effective work. Tiffany Yu advises aspiring leaders to use their influence and resources to drive positive change. She emphasizes the importance of leveraging one’s unique background and expertise to advocate for important causes. For Tiffany, this includes using her finance background to promote disability-centered economic justice. She has invested in micro-grants, endowment funds, and startups led by underestimated entrepreneurs. She encourages others to look at their own spheres of influence and find ways to make an impact, whether by donating to causes they care about, serving on boards, or mentoring others. Tiffany’s approach involves amplifying diverse voices and sharing stories to enrich the disability experience.
Looking ahead, Tiffany is passionate about advancing disability-centered economic justice. She highlights the disparity in philanthropic funding for disability advocacy, despite the significant number of people affected. Her goal is to close the disability employment and wealth gaps, and she hopes Diversability will continue to support disabled community members and drive conversations about disability inclusion. Tiffany envisions her company as a catalyst for change, contributing to a more equitable future for disabled individuals.
Tiffany is particularly proud of two accomplishments. First, she cherishes the stories of community members who have found their voice and embraced their disability identity through Diversability. Seeing individuals transition from feeling isolated to becoming confident advocates is deeply rewarding. Second, she is proud of leading a team entirely composed of disabled people. A notable moment was attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where she spoke on its first-ever disability inclusion agenda and engaged with global leaders. These experiences validate the impact and importance of Diversability’s work. Cultivating a positive company culture is an ongoing effort for Tiffany and her team. She is proud of creating an environment where team members can thrive and grow. Tiffany values feedback from her team, including comments from Jessica Lopez, the company’s former social media manager, who felt that working at Diversability expanded her career aspirations and provided valuable mentorship. Tiffany’s goal is to ensure that the company’s culture supports employees, honors their access needs, and values their contributions. This inclusive culture allows team members to be open about their identities and fosters a supportive and dynamic work environment.
Tiffany Yu believes that elite CEOs distinguish themselves by their willingness to engage in every aspect of their role, no matter how small or mundane. Despite the glamor often associated with being a CEO, Tiffany remains hands-on, handling tasks such as categorizing expenses and editing social media graphics. She also emphasizes the importance of effective delegation and management. Tiffany acknowledges that transparency and continuous learning are crucial aspects of leadership, and she appreciates the support and understanding of her team as she develops these skills.
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
To make informed decisions, Tiffany actively follows emerging trends and developments in her field through social media and research. Platforms like LinkedIn provide valuable insights from disability advocates and industry leaders. Tiffany keeps up with reports and research from organizations like Accenture, The Valuable 500, and Return on Disability. She also stays updated through conversation happening within Diversability’s communities and follows thought leaders in the disability community to learn and adapt to new trends. Continuous learning is a core value for Tiffany. She actively seeks out opportunities for growth, such as graduating from the Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses program and participating in the One Creator Lab. Mentorship has been crucial in her journey, helping her navigate the transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship. Tiffany maintains connections with mentors through social media and LinkedIn, recognizing the importance of ongoing learning and mentorship in her professional development.
Tiffany’s resilience, shaped by her experiences as a disabled person, influences her approach to challenges and setbacks. She applies the adaptability and creativity she has developed to overcome obstacles both personally and within her organization. Tiffany believes in taking one step at a time and using setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. A guiding mantra for Tiffany is, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” This quote reminds her to remain generous and compassionate, especially in the face of challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Tiffany finds it essential to stay focused on the larger impact of her work and to be kind despite any resistance or negativity she might encounter.
Tiffany fosters open communication and collaboration through tools like Slack and Asana. While she acknowledges that there is room for improvement in their processes, these tools help manage tasks and facilitate teamwork. Tiffany values the flexibility of remote work and appreciates that her team can work independently while still collaborating effectively.
Looking ahead, Tiffany is particularly excited about the release of her debut book, “The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World,” on October 8, 2024 by Hachette Go during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October). She hopes it will spark important conversations about disability inclusion and accessibility. Additionally, she looks forward to a forthcoming announcement in October that will help scale Diversability’s impact. Tiffany is also enthusiastic about continuing to support community members through the Diversability Leadership Collective and celebrating the fifth annual D-30 Disability Impact List, which honors influential disabled leaders worldwide that was announced in July 2024 (Disability Pride Month).
“I’m on a mission to use whatever power and privilege I have to fight for more disability equity and disability justice.”
