Alumni Highlight: Sky Lingo

Please share a bit about yourself and the work that you do

My name is Skylar (Sky) Lingo, and I am a Human Rights and Gender specialist currently serving as the Talent and Inclusion Senior Associate at Glenmede. I have spent my career focused on leveraging Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and supporting their programming to increase representation and inform company policy, fostering more equitable and inclusive workplace cultures. In my current role, I lead the strategy, planning, and execution of initiatives for Glenmede’s ERGs, driving engagement and cultivating a supportive environment for employees. I also support the firm’s recruiting initiatives, with a focus on building intentional pipelines to attract and retain talent from diverse backgrounds, and I oversee volunteer programming and philanthropic engagement. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and English from Cornell University and a Master’s degree in Human Rights from Columbia University, with a concentration on the intersection of gender and policy. I bring a data-informed, human-centered approach to her work, leveraging community partnerships to design inclusive experiences that resonate across employees with diverse perspectives. I am passionate about driving meaningful change through storytelling, policy innovation, and intentional programming that empowers individuals and strengthens organizational culture.

What was your research focus during your time at Columbia? What drew you to this particular issue/set of issues?

What drew me to human rights and gender studies is a longstanding commitment to community building through the lens of identity. I have always been passionate about understanding how social, cultural, and institutional structures shape experiences of inclusion and exclusion, and about creating spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds can feel seen, supported, and empowered. During my time at Columbia University, I focused on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and policy, with a particular emphasis on youth. My research examined how legislation, such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), affects LGBTQ+ youth, exploring both the intended and unintended consequences of policy language. I became deeply interested in how the wording of policies—whether inadvertent or deliberate—can shape how laws are implemented and, in turn, affect the lived experiences of individuals and communities. This work reinforced my understanding that policy is not abstract; it directly impacts people’s access to safety, representation, and opportunity. By analyzing the implications of policy for LGBTQ+ youth, I developed a nuanced perspective on how structural and legal frameworks can either protect or marginalize vulnerable populations. These insights continue to inform my approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where I apply a human rights-informed, identity-centered lens to design programs, shape policy, and foster inclusive communities within organizations.

What else have you done since you graduated from the program? 

Since graduating from the program, I have applied my background in human rights, with a focus on gender and sexuality policy, to the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I began my career on the Inclusion team at Jefferies, the investment bank in New York, where I spent nearly a year supporting initiatives to foster equity and belonging across the organization. In Fall 2025, I transitioned to Philadelphia to join Glenmede in a similar capacity, continuing to leverage my expertise to analyze workplace structures, identify systemic barriers, and develop policies and programs that advance representation and inclusion.

In the financial services industry, where access and advancement for underrepresented groups can be limited, I apply a human rights-informed perspective to design intentional talent pipelines, lead Employee Resource Group programming, and create inclusive experiences that foster belonging and drive meaningful organizational change.

Beyond my professional work, I recently joined the City Year Philadelphia Associate Board, where I collaborate with a group of motivated, impact-driven young professionals dedicated to advancing academic outcomes for all students and cultivating the next generation of leaders by building strong networks and fostering lifelong champions for City Year. I also serve on the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Council, connecting with peers to contribute to the city’s professional and civic community.

Which class would you recommend to students interested in the same issues as you? 

I have really enjoyed all of my classes at Columbia, but there are a few that have been particularly impactful in shaping my approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. For those interested in gender and sexuality advocacy, I highly recommend HRTS GU 4400 – Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Human Rights. This course provides a deep understanding of the legal, social, and cultural frameworks that affect LGBTQ+ communities globally and offers tools to advocate for equity and inclusion in professional and policy contexts. For students interested in working in the inclusion and equity space more broadly, HRTS GU 4915 – Human Rights and the Urban Public Space is especially valuable. This course explores how the design of physical and policy spaces can privilege certain groups over others, shaping who has access, visibility, and influence in a given environment. It provided me with practical insights into how organizational structures and policies can unintentionally exclude or marginalize individuals, lessons that I now apply directly in my work designing inclusive programs and shaping Employee Resource Group strategy. Both courses offered frameworks for analyzing systemic barriers and understanding how rights, representation, and equity intersect, and they continue to inform the human rights-informed perspective I bring to my work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the financial services industry.

Where did you grow up? In which countries and/or cities have you lived?

Wayne, Pennsylvania (30 minutes outside of Philadelphia)

What is a must-read for a human rights student?

Beyond the classroom, I think every human rights student (and everyone, in general) should read All About Love by bell hooks. This book was a major inspiration for my Columbia application essay and continues to shape the way I approach my work. hooks presents love not only as a feeling but as both an ethical framework and a deliberate action. For me, it reinforced that love is the common thread connecting us as human beings, and it has informed the human-centered, empathetic perspective I bring to fostering inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace cultures.

What was your favorite spot to study (or spend time) on campus?

The Butler stacks!

Do you have any words of wisdom for students currently enrolled in the HRSMA program? 

One piece of advice I would offer to current students is to think broadly about how human rights can inform your career, even in fields that may not traditionally be labeled as “human rights work.” For example, roles in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion allow you to apply human rights principles every day—shaping policies, building equitable workplaces, and fostering communities where all individuals can thrive.

Human rights is not limited to positions at the United Nations or in NGOs; social impact can happen anywhere, from financial services to technology to education. The key is to focus on your passion and find ways to interweave human rights into your work. By doing so, you can create meaningful change in spaces that may not appear directly connected to human rights at first glance, while still applying the principles of equity, justice, and inclusion that drive the field.