02/07/2025

DE&I Is Under Fire

However, growing companies embrace it

When I ask around boardrooms, the consensus is that the future of work is upon us. The world is changing faster than ever and businesses are struggling to keep up. This challenging new normal also presents an opportunity to build more resilient workplaces through diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). Recent political criticisms from the United States have called into question the merits of DE&I policies - but at what cost?

Working with senior teams at multinational businesses I see Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly reshaping the workplace. Algorithms are already being used to determine who gets hired, promoted or fired. Far from being the great equalizer, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has already found worrying evidence of AI-powered hiring software displaying biases against minorities and womenⁱ. If governments and businesses are serious about preparing workers for the future, DE&I is not an ideological stance or a corporate formality - I believe it is a strategic necessity for any organization looking to innovate and compete.

In the "Year of Elections," a record 3.7 billion people cast their votes in 2024, marking one of the most consequential election years in modern history. For many, these elections reflected deep anxieties - not only about the cost of living and geopolitical instability but also about the shifting nature of work and financial security for them and their families. Yet, despite the evident need for businesses to future-proof their workforces, political leaders are undermining effective hiring practices for long-term economic competitiveness.

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