Re: Op-ed: DEI has to go, our businesses and future depend on it
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a crucial component of not only a fair society, but also a successful business strategy.
While I respect the perspective of Mr. Boschy, it’s important to recognize that DEI is neither a “Trojan horse” nor a threat to human flourishing. In fact, it plays a vital role in fostering healthier workplaces, advancing societal progress and driving economic success.
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Let’s do a comparison of two big retailers, Target and Costco. After Target cancelled some of its DEI programs, it has been receiving backlash from customers. It has seen sales drop consistently over the past five weeks after American faith leaders called for a boycott. Costco doubled down on its DEI efforts and has seen an increase in the bottom line. Its stock has increased steadily since it announced a pro-diversity stance and its traffic numbers have doubled.
It’s not just good for business, it gives everyone the opportunity to be seen and heard, regardless of race, gender, sexual preferences, etc.
Imagine working in a school where Indigenous youth get to see Marvel and Disney not only create their first female, Indigenous character, but also craft the episode around the youths’ native-language, Kanien’kéha (Mohawk). There’s so much to be said for being seen and included, especially by a superhero brand on a world stage.
“Barbie” took the box office by storm, earning more than $1.4 billion worldwide to become the highest-grossing film in the 100-year history of Warner Bros. Cornwall’s Ryan Gosling understood the assignment and stepped into a version of himself that was self-deprecating, self-aware and hilarious (it made MAGA supporters’ heads explode, too). He supported all his leading ladies up until and including the Oscars where he sang and danced (even Slash from Guns N’ Roses made an appearance), all while wearing a pink sequined suit. Because he threw a light onto the side of the patriarchy that women struggle with on a daily basis, you cannot tell me this means he will no longer be a box office draw. He’s probably the most popular actor in the world at this moment, in all honesty.
Some DEI programs pay only a lip service to the actual outcomes they claim to advocate for.
When I worked at Salesforce in the U.S., we were encouraged by our CEO to bring the “Lean In” program into our departments. Unfortunately, lower-level managers (below C-suite) didn’t “get the memo,” refused to support us and some of us were penalized (promotions withheld, told to not leave our office to talk to our co-workers, etc). I have participated in programs that try to attract female entrepreneurs, only to be told things like, “Your co-founder is too pretty, you need to take her picture off the website or you won’t get funded.”
Unfortunately, some companies and organizations haven’t gotten the buy-in and we have seen backlash toward individuals at even high levels of leadership. When done right, DEI programs aim to level the playing field, to encourage diverse perspectives and promote inclusivity.
One of the greatest privileges I had in my tech career was seeing the beloved Cindy Gallop speak in New York City at the 3% Conference in the advertising industry (thanks to our CMO at Salesforce). It changed my perception and opened me up to real issues in so many of our sectors. This line stuck with me: “The rarest unicorn in our industry is the Black female ECD (executive creative director).”
A unicorn, in that many companies think that putting diverse people in charge means sacrificing quality when, in actuality, it creates more opportunity to witness greatness, to learn, grow and evolve. We should be so lucky to work with Black women and diverse people.
While I understand the concerns about the perceived dangers of “wokeness,” it’s essential to clarify that DEI is not about ideological purity or silencing dissent. Healthy DEI efforts promote open dialogue, empathy and understanding, even when opinions differ. Instead of turning away from something that makes you feel uncomfortable, embrace it, be curious and nurture it.
