About
The Z Bridge
The Z Bridge operates at the intersection of leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, with a primary focus on cultivating cultures where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive.
We partner with mission-driven organizations, collaborating with government agencies, nonprofits, and social enterprises both nationally and internationally. Our aim is to guide and support staff, leadership, and stakeholders in the creation of inclusive and equitable cultures.
Committed to the principles of fairness and inclusion, we are dedicated to assisting organizations in embracing diversity, navigating the complexities of equity, and championing inclusion. Together, we bridge the gap toward a more equitable and harmonious world where success knows no boundaries.
Irma Zoepf
Founder & Principal
Meet Irma – a bilingual strategic leader who specializes in helping organizations drive impactful change through leadership development, DEI strategies, and cultural transformation. Irma partners with organizations to build inclusive, high-performing teams and to create environments where every individual can thrive.
Irma integrates compassion and empathy into her approach, ensuring that leadership and organizational practices are not only effective but also supportive and human-centered. She works with leaders to reimagine and implement systems that align with their organizational goals and values, resulting in improved productivity, better engagement, and a more harmonious workplace culture.
With expertise in design science and DEI, and a diverse background in engineering, HR, and organizational management across three continents, Irma brings a unique perspective to solving complex challenges and fostering collaboration.
Irma holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Business Strategy. She is certified in Lean/Six Sigma, Diversity Executive (CDE), Coaching, and Compassion Training.
Irma founded the Latinas in San Mateo County and Women in Silicon Valley Lean In groups and serves on the Commission on the Status of Women in San Mateo County. She is deeply committed to community impact and lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
When necessary, Irma collaborates with a team of experienced facilitators, trainers, and coaches to guide organizations on their journey toward achieving equity and inclusion.
Clients & Partners
Testimonials
Thank you for sharing your powerful story with us for Hispanic Heritage Month. I know your thoughtful reflection on the biases and barriers you’ve faced – and have overcome – will inspire others as much as it inspired me. I’m deeply grateful for everything you do to create a more fair and inclusive world.
Cheering you on, always!
Irma’s contributions to our DEI efforts were invaluable. Her positive energy was instrumental in bringing our executive team and the board of directors into the DEI journey at PFS. Having The Z Bridge onboard jump-started an important conversation at our organization, created awareness and set our team to take actionable steps to advance DEI. After a year of working with Irma, we have developed an understanding at all levels of how to build diversity, equity, and inclusion into the culture of our organization. The work has produced a positive impact that we can actually observe and measure!
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) workshop led by Irma and Alejandro was a great overview of DEI concepts with the added bonus of insights into Latinx culture and concepts. I feel better informed and equipped for the work that our non-profit does here in the Bay Area, promoting equity in education. Whether your work is directly tied to DEI or not – this training is worthwhile! Understanding these concepts is the key to both healthier communities and more effective organizations. As Maya Angelou said, “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” Irma and Alejandro help you to see, understand and leverage that beauty and strength in ways that are beneficial personally and professionally. I highly recommend their workshop to everyone! -Dayna Chung, Director of Workforce Initiatives, Community Equity Collaborative.
This is a great introductory workshop on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the trainers create the perfect environment for learning!
Peninsula Family Service wanted to establish a comprehensive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program tied to the organization’s strategic goals. Irma’s organizational skills and her diversity philosophy were a perfect match. She directed Peninsula Family Service through every early phase of the program, gaining our trust and confidence. We established organizational definitions, ensured that members of the DEI Staff Committee and the Executive Leadership Team were also leaders in DEI throughout the organization. Irma created and designed a diversity assessment that was completed by many stakeholders and lead to the creation of an organizational action plan. Because of Irma’s expertise, sensitivity to our culture, staff and Board of Directors, we have an excellent beginning to our DEI program and an overriding commitment to meeting our goals.Irma Zoepf stands above the many other diversity trainers I have experienced. She understands and communicates the principles and techniques of cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion and the many values DEI adds to a non-profit organization. She is an organized professional and an excellent facilitator; but what sets her apart is the attention and practical advice she gives, based on her wide-ranging experiences working with so many other businesses, and organizations. She is very perceptive, and truly cares about and connects with the people she consults with. Irma provides the necessary sensitivity and knowledge about the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing non-profits. I recommend her unequivocally.
Irma’s work went above and beyond expectations. She was always prepared. And, she always brought a surprise element into perspective which stimulated thinking and took you away from what you thought you already knew.
I greatly enjoyed partnering with Irma. She took the time to understand our needs and delivered the facilitated discussions our staff wanted. The workshops themselves were engaging, informative, and well-received by staff, providing education, actionable goals, and a forum for sharing and connecting with one another.
Irma is a terrific workshop leader. She is calm, patient, and knowledgeable. Her talks are very useful to one’s professional and personal life.
Irma helped us plan and then facilitated our first ever IDEAL training series for the Redwood City Library Foundation staff and board. From the inception of the training series, Irma partnered with us on the purpose and scope of the series, including which topics to explore, and also thinking ahead about how to apply learnings and the action steps we would take in our organization post-training. Irma personalized the entire training series to our needs and the varied levels of DEI experience of our participants. She compassionately and patiently facilitated the workshops and break-out groups. Her depth of knowledge and ability to ‘take us where we were at’ eased our organization into a better understanding of our personal roles, and organizational structure and policies to champion equity in our community.