Rachel Braaten, Pmp®
About Rachel Braaten, Pmp®
Rachel Braaten is the Director of Accessibility at Thomson Reuters, where she leads the Enterprise Accessibility Team and oversees digital accessibility initiatives. With over 12 years of experience in team management and a strong background in accessibility standards, she drives operational efficiency and change across complex projects.
Work at Thomson Reuters
Rachel Braaten serves as the Director of Accessibility at Thomson Reuters, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she oversees the Enterprise Accessibility Team and the Center of Excellence, focusing on enhancing digital accessibility across the organization. She manages user experience workflows within the software development life cycle, employing both Agile and Waterfall methodologies. Her leadership is pivotal in driving enterprise-wide change for digital accessibility adoption, establishing standards and practices at scale to ensure compliance and usability.
Education and Expertise
Rachel Braaten possesses extensive knowledge of accessibility standards, including WCAG, VPAT/ACRs, AODA, Section 508, and EN 301 549. She has a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, which emphasizes her expertise in process improvement and operational efficiency. Her strong background in vendor sourcing and management is particularly relevant in the context of accessibility projects, allowing her to effectively oversee and implement initiatives that enhance accessibility.
Background
With over 12 years of experience in managing people and teams, Rachel Braaten has developed skills in workforce planning, coaching, and talent development. Her experience spans various roles, focusing on driving and managing change across complex and highly visible projects. This background equips her with the necessary skills to lead teams effectively and ensure successful project outcomes in the field of accessibility.
Achievements
Rachel Braaten has made significant contributions to the field of accessibility through her leadership at Thomson Reuters. She specializes in driving enterprise-wide change for digital accessibility adoption, which includes establishing standards and practices that are implemented at scale. Her ability to manage user experience workflows and lead teams in both Agile and Waterfall environments has positioned her as a key figure in advancing accessibility initiatives within the organization.