SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Nzinga “Zing” Shaw has been appointed Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Officer for the Recording Academy®, the founding organization of the GRAMMY Awards®.
The Recording Academy, which represents such music professionals as performers, songwriters, producers and engineers, issued a prepared statement on February 28, 2023 about Shaw’s appointment.
“I am thrilled to introduce Zing to the Recording Academy as our Chief DEI Officer,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Her groundbreaking work in the DEI field speaks for itself and we are excited to see how she’ll amplify the Academy’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and drive positive change throughout the organization.”
In her role, Shaw will oversee diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across all areas of the Recording Academy, including internal and external programs, organizational and staff culture, membership, awards and related initiatives.
“I am proud to join the Recording Academy and work with a talented team of leaders to cultivate a culture of inclusion that fosters different points of view and empowers diverse colleagues,” said Shaw. “The organization has made incredible strides in diversity, equity and inclusion over the last few years, and I look forward to being part of the Academy’s continued commitment to supporting both our internal stakeholders and the music community at large.”
Additionally, Shaw’s expertise will help activate an engaged global workforce and cultivate a more inclusive culture in order to best position the organization for future growth, according to the statement.
Prior to joining the Academy, Shaw is known for her pioneering DEI work with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, launching the MOSAIC symposium (Model of Shaping Atlanta through Inclusive Conversations), and making the Hawks the first professional sports team to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, Shaw was the first Chief DEI Officer at Edelman, Starbucks and the National Basketball Association.
In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of Fisk University, the Board of Directors of ColorComm, and the Board of Advisors of Arctos Sports Partners, Shaw was appointed by 39th United States President Jimmy Carter to serve a six-year term on the Board of Councilors of the Carter Center.
The Recording Academy honors music’s history through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares® and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards®. For more information about the Academy, visit www.grammy.com