IN THIS MOMENT

The conversation explores the evolving landscape of data collection in organizations, emphasizing the shift towards self-identification and the importance of anonymity in employee surveys. It highlights the need for real-time data collection methods that foster trust and engagement among employees. The discussion also delves into the erosion of trust in organizations, the significance of authentic leadership, and the challenges of navigating authenticity in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. The role of artificial intelligence in bias detection and the necessity of identifying barriers to growth within organizations are also examined.

When what you say on your website doesn’t match what it’s like to work at your company, you’re not just being hypocritical. You’re losing money. In this episode, LaQuenta “Q” Jacobs breaks down the three gaps that have a real financial cost: the talent gap, the market share gap, and the brand reputation gap. Using hard data on consumer spending and real-world brand disasters, Q makes a clear, undeniable business case for getting your culture right from the inside out.

Why has the business case for diversity failed? Because we’ve been using the wrong currency. In this episode, Andrés Tapia explains why you can’t buy coffee in Peru with dollars—and why you can’t sell DEI with social justice language in a for-profit world. We explore the shift from the moral case to the impact case, where diversity is tied directly to business goals up front. It’s a pragmatic, powerful conversation about speaking the language of business to achieve real, measurable outcomes.

In this conversation, Zach Nunn discusses the implications of AI on the future of work, emphasizing the unsustainable nature of replacing human jobs with technology. He highlights the fear surrounding job loss due to AI, the reality of AI implementation failures, and the importance of change management in organizations. The discussion also touches on the need for diversity in tech, the ethical considerations of AI, and the evolving corporate landscape. Nunn encourages individuals to prepare for the future by staying informed and adaptable in a rapidly changing job market.

After six conversations with six incredible leaders, we hit pause to ask: what are we really learning? In this episode, we admit that we—as DEI practitioners—failed to give leaders the right script. We didn’t give them the business language or the safety to be champions. This isn’t a recap. It’s a reckoning. We’re looking at the patterns of power, vulnerability, and inclusion that kept showing up, and we’re pivoting to what’s next: building the future, not just defending the present.

This conversation explores the challenges and opportunities for women in technology, particularly in the context of AI and workforce dynamics. It discusses the alarming rates at which women are leaving the workforce, the implications of generational shifts, and the importance of diversity in tech.

In this conversation, Tom Moore discusses the anticipated pressure tactics organizations may face from the federal government over the next 24 months. He highlights the dynamics between federal and state responses, the vulnerability of various industries, and the importance of collective resistance against capitulation. The discussion also touches on the legal challenges organizations may encounter, the need for proactive strategies, and the historical context of compliance and resistance. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the power of collective action and the potential for individuals to mobilize change in challenging times.

The workplace is a pressure cooker, and elections are turning up the heat. Communications pro Allison Schlobohm joins us to dissect the 208 million daily acts of incivility happening at work. We explore the difference between rudeness and microaggressions, why banning political talk backfires, and the exhausting toll it takes on employees. This is a critical look at how to foster psychological safety when the world outside feels anything but safe.

This conversation delves into the complexities of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in the workplace, highlighting the backlash faced by those in power and the importance of engaging them in the conversation. The speakers discuss the fear surrounding DEI initiatives, the necessity of inclusion for business success, and the role of allies in fostering a supportive environment. They emphasize the need for leaders to prepare for a diverse workforce, the significance of storytelling in DEI, and the dynamics of power in allyship. Ultimately, the discussion calls for a personal commitment to allyship and the importance of understanding one’s own motivations for engaging in this work.