I would recommend scheduling a one-on-one lunch together. At lunch, think of yourself as a news reporter who needs to find all about this person. Where are they from? What was their family like? Why do they work here? What are their hobbies? See if you can get them talking about something that they have a strong opinion about.

See if you can do one of these every week.

I also think you would highly benefit from Toastmasters.