Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has faced a lot of backlash recently. Once celebrated as a win-win solution that tackled systemic injustice and boosted business performance, DEI has become politicized and scrutinized within an inch of its life. As it was happening, those of us working to advance DEI didn't adjust as the ground shifted beneath our feet. DEI was recast as an anti-meritocratic overreach that prioritized identity over skills or qualifications.
According to a survey by HR Brain, only 10% of companies have a strategy to retain mature workers, despite the number of workers age 65 and older in the U.S. nearly quadrupling since the 1980s.
The idea that the CEO should shoulder all the responsibility for public representation is not only limiting but also neglects a critical element of modern leadership: the power of the collective influence of the entire executive team.