Janet Emerson Bashen

President, and Founder

“As a black girl growing up in the segregated South, I asked my parents many questions about race. They did not have any answers, which started my life-long curiosity about our country’s historical struggles with racial and gender issues. My passion regarding EEO, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiatives was the genesis of Bashen Corporation.”

                                                                       ~ Janet Emerson Bashen President/CEO

Janet Emerson Bashen (Ms. Bashen) is the founder and President of Bashen Corporation (“Bashen”).  With over 30 years consulting experience with an emphasis on workplace investigations, EEO compliance administration and diversity initiatives. Ms. Bashen’s experience include MD110, 29CFR Part 1614, MD 715, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Sections 501 and 505, NO FEAR, Title V, Title VI, Title VII, Pregnancy Discrimination, Title IX, ADA, ADAAA, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Equal Pay Act, Barrier Analyses, Affirmative Action – Executive Order 11246 and numerous other executive orders and more. Established in 1994, Ms. Bashen built the business from her home office with little money, one client and a fervent commitment to succeed.  As an African-American businesswoman competing with legions of capitalized law firms and other consulting firms, Ms Bashen’s goal was to establish immediate credibility with prospective clients.  These entities had to be persuaded that Bashen’s services would forever transform the way EEO concerns are successfully managed.  Today, Bashen is the brand for EEO compliance consulting.  Collectively, Ms. Bashen and her staff have investigated nearly 34,000 EEO complaints for federal agencies, private sector, not for profits and numerous other entities.  Ms. Bashen’s experience also includes many high profile systemic cases.

National Recognition

Janet Bashen and Bashen Corporation are continually recognized nationally for important business achievements. In 2016, Ms. Bashen was recognized by Black Enterprise for her historic contribution of LinkLine a web-based case management and complaint tracking software for workplace complaints. In 2014, Ms. Bashen was named to Harvard University’s Women’s Leadership Board whose mission is to create gender equality and improve the lives of women and men around the world. Ebony Magazine highlighted Ms. Bashen’s achievements in the December/January 2013 Power 100 issue. In 2008 and 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Bashen Corporation was named as one of DiversityBusiness.com’s Top 500 Minority Owned Businesses in the United States. In 2010, Ms. Bashen was recognized by the Robert R. Taylor Network (RRTN) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for LinkLine at the World’s Festival of Black Arts and Culture in Dakar, Senegal. As the first African-American woman to be awarded a web-based software patent, Ms. Bashen was inducted to the Black Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007 alongside inventors such as: George Washington Carver [peanut products], Madame C.J. Walker [beauty and hair care products], and Garrett Augustus Morgan [traffic signal].  In January 2006, Ms. Bashen was awarded a patent for her EEO software invention, LinkLine. LinkLine®, is a web-based application for EEO complaints management and tracking. Ms. Bashen was also the 2004 recipient of the prestigious Crystal Award for achievement in business presented by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.  She was featured in the October 2004 issue of Eclipse Magazine highlighting her business successes.  In October 2003, Bashen received the Pinnacle Award from the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce for success in business.  In October 2002, Bashen Corporation was named one of America’s entrepreneurial growth leaders by Inc. Magazine in its annual Inc. 500 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, with an increase in sales of 552 percent. In May 2000, Ms. Bashen testified before Congress regarding the effect of the FTC opinion letter on third party discrimination investigations.  Ms. Bashen and Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee were key figures in the change in legislation.

Ms. Bashen’s experience with Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity makes her a sought after lecturer and motivational speaker.  She is a frequent lecturer on equal employment opportunity and fair employment practices, participating as a featured speaker for organizations such as the: EEOC, American Association for Affirmative Action, Professional Liability Underwriting Society, Society for Human Resources (“SHRM”), State Bar of Texas – Labor and Employment Section, National Association of Negro Women in Business and many others.  Ms. Bashen has been interviewed by numerous television and radio programs including, CNN and Business Talk Radio.

Speaking Engagements, Training & Articles Written

Ms. Bashen has conducted training and written numerous white papers and Industry articles regarding

EEO, Diversity, Fair Employment Practices and Affirmative Action:

  • AWARE™ The Investigator’s Handbook – 2016 (2nd Quarter)
  • Black Enterprise Executive Leadership – 2016
  • AWARE™ How to Investigate Harassment Complaints – 2016
  • EEO Counselor Refresher – 2015
  • Harvard University Women and Equity Board – 2014
  • EEO Process Mapping It’s All in the Planning – 2013
  • EEO SWOT, How Does Your Agency Measure Up? – 2012
  • EEO Compliance – 2012
  • EEO Compliance for Supervisors and Managers – 2012
  • Advanced EEO for Supervisors and Managers, Part II – 2010
  • The ABC’s of EEO for Supervisors and Managers, Part II – 2010
  • EEO Process Mapping Part II, “A Narrow and Winding Road” – 2010
  • The EEO SWOT – “Measuring Your Organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats – 2010
  • Measuring the Real Cost of EEO and Workplace Claims – 2010
  • “Generations Apart, Part II” – Age is Not Just a Number – 2010
  • The EEOC’s New Mission: “Enforcement, Enforcement and Enforcement” – 2010
  • President Obama and the EEOC – New Administration, New Attitude and New Dollars, “What’s an Agency to Do”? – 2010
  • Diversity Investment Plans “DIP” – What is Your ROI? – 2009
  • Privilege Is Not Yours Alone – 2009
  • Software as a Service (“SaaS”) The SaaS Application and Why It’s Important to

EEOC Investigative Process – 2009

  • “Generations Apart” – Diversity for the Generations – 2008
  • Building a Strategic Affirmative Action Plan
  • Designing an EEO Business Initiative, “It’s all in the Plan” – May 2008
  • Avoiding Systemic Claims – 2008
  • The EEO Business Plan – 2008
  • Diversity Process Mapping – 2007
  • The Color of Diversity, Race Codes – “It’s All in the Mix” – 2007
  • EEO Process Mapping, “A Narrow and Winding Road” – December 2006
  • Fair Employment Practices – It Affects the Bottom Line! – 2006
  • Equal Employment Opportunity – The Real Meaning 40 Years Later! – 2006
  • Best Practices for Managing Diversity – 2002
  • Solving the Affirmative Employment Maze – 2004
  • LinkLine, A Look at Technology and EEO – 2001
  • Diversity Training for Employees and Front-Line Managers – 2001
  • Advanced EEO for Supervisors and Managers – 2000
  • The Life Cycle of a Discrimination Complaint – 1999
  • The ABC’s of EEO for Supervisors and Managers – 1998

Education

Ms. Bashen’s educational background includes a degree in legal studies and government from the University of Houston, and postgraduate studies at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Administration Executive Program. Ms. Bashen is also a graduate of Harvard University’s “Women and Power: Leadership in a New World”.