“When someone asks my 70-year-old mom and dad what I do for a living, they literally say, ‘She talks, a lot, for a living.’” Demetris Cheatham doesn’t shy away from conversation, it’s her strategy. As Chief of Staff to GitHub’s CEO, Cheatham orchestrates high-stakes initiatives that shape the company’s long-term direction. But she’s best known for “All In,” the open source DEI program she founded to transform access and equity across tech. Cheatham sees belonging not as a box to check, but a responsibility: “Belonging is when the DJ actually thinks about what song you want to hear.”
Born in Washington, D.C., Cheatham earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science at North Carolina A&T State University and an MBA at University of Maryland. She began her career in politics and law, becoming the youngest and first woman Executive Director of the National Bar Association. Her pivot to DEI emerged through leadership roles at Red Hat and GitHub, where she’s championed holistic, systemic approaches to inclusion. At GitHub, she previously served as Senior Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy, and now, as Chief of Staff, she ensures that diversity touches every business function. Her role spans product, finance, and operations, grounded in her belief that inclusion must be embedded into core decision-making.
Cheatham resists performative metrics and shallow campaigns. “I like going deep and having that transformational effect with a few,” she’s said, describing her ripple-effect model. Whether meeting individually with students from overlooked universities or calling out the pitfalls of “hiring for potential” without adequate support, she brings rigor, empathy, and accountability. From launching a 12-month DEI pilot to rallying companies around transparent strategy sharing, Cheatham is reshaping how tech talks and acts on equity. Her work lives in the quiet power of listening, and the loud demand for lasting change.