How DEI Can Survive This Era of Backlash

Despite recent backlash against and cuts to organizational DEI initiatives, researchers from the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab argue that DEI isn’t dead in the U.S. Instead, they say it’s experiencing a period of what social movement scholars call “closed doors,” where the obvious route for change is no longer easily accessible. They recently convened a gathering of 14 chief diversity officers (CDOs) to unpack what’s happening in their world. The group represented six industries and companies ranging from a couple thousand to over 300,000 employees. The researchers noted striking similarities between current DEI strategies and the tactics used by feminist movement builders during times of closed doors — and uncovered four strategies for continuing the important work of DEI while it’s under attack.

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  Lori Nishiura Mackenzie is cofounder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, a keynote speaker, and a LinkedIn Learning instructor. She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics, innovation, and inclusive leadership. Read more about her at lorimackenzie.com and follow her on LinkedIn.
  

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  Sarah A. Soule is the Morgridge Professor of Organizational Behavior and the Sara Miller McCune Director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. She studies organizational theory, social movements, and political sociology including topics like gender bias in the craft beer industry and the impact of women’s protest on congressional attention.

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  Shelley J. Correll is the Michelle Mercer and Bruce Golden Family Professor of Women’s Leadership at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab.
  

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  Melissa C. Thomas-Hunt is the John Forbes Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business and Professor of Public Policy at the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. She is the former Head of Global Diversity and Belonging at Airbnb where she led the strategy and execution of global internal diversity, belonging, and connection programs. For 25 years, she has taught MBAs and executives leadership, team dynamics, and negotiations and conducted research on connection and the factors that unleash, leverage, and amplify the contributions made by individuals in teams. Her book Inclusion Unlocked: A Guide for Leaders to Act was recently published by Wiley Press. She currently serves on the board of Airbnb.org, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia, and Harlem Academy.