The “D” Word: How To Lead So Everyone Can Thrive In DEI-Restricted Climate

A movement by any other name would be just as crucial.

New presidential assertions claim diversity is immoral and has led to reverse discrimination, so the D word for diversity is banned.

The recent White House executive order calling for the elimination of Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts, programs and initiatives in federal agencies, as well as foundations, businesses, the U.S. Airforce, corporations, universities, legal and medical associations, non-profits and more organizations and companies across industries has prompted different largescale responses.

Changing the Workplace, ParityMichele WeldonJanuary 31, 2025DEI, diversity, Equity, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Inclusion, Gender EquityComment

What’s Essential? Author, CEO, Founder on What Leaders Need To Do Now

“The pace of change is greater than ever,” says Christie Smith, Ph.D., founder and CEO of The Humanitiy Studio, and co-author with Kelly Monahan of Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI and Global Shifts Arte Creating A New Human-Powered Leadership,

“Technology is outpacing leader capabilities. The paradign has shifted dramatically. There is a skills scarcity,” says Smith, whose more than three-decade career including leader Global Talent & Organization consulting at Accenture, after her role as Managing Principle of Deloitte Consulting, and developer of the Deloitte University Centers for Inclusion and Community Impact.

Women Career SuccessMichele WeldonJanuary 17, 2025DEI, AI, Leadership PositionsComment

Enough Is Enough: Leading With Equity in 2025 and Beyond For Success

Demi Moore in her recent Golden Globes acceptance speech for best actress for her performance in “The Substance,” said: “In those moments when we don’t think we’re smart enough or pretty enough or skinny enough or successful enough or basically just not enough, I had a woman say to me, ‘Know you will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick.’”

As a leader, it is crucial that you do not do that to yourself or to anyone on your team. Whether you are an entrepreneur working solo, or a colleague leading a team, it is important to know not only your worth, but the worth of building, supporting, maintaining and uplifting a broadly inclusive team honoring equity across all categories. Each person is enough and offers valuable contributions, so together it is an equation for success.

Change LeadershipMichele WeldonJanuary 10, 2025DEI, Leadership PositionsComment

Freedom To Fight For DEI: How Legal Battles Affect Leadership Policies, Commitment

The fireworks this month for celebrations of U.S. independence surrounding July 4 are not the only outbursts catching the attention of corporations, leaders, non-profits and educators. The trend of nationwide pushback on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts at work and in higher education is loud and distracting.

These issues demand response and action in the workplace now and require deep understanding of the laws, processes and practices in order to be successful in achieving parity and equity in leadership across gender, race and identity.

Changing the WorkplaceMichele WeldonJune 28, 2024Diversity, DEI, Workplace CultureComment

Equity in The Balance: Catalyst Winners On DEI Tools To Change Work Culture

This is not checking the box for diversity for the sake of claiming diversity. This is about leaders and their global organizations that are making a difference to create equity in the workplace, communities and the world.

At their recent Catalyst Awards 2023, the global nonprofit founded in 1962 to “accelerate and advance women into leadership” applauded an exceptional roster of those at the helms of “forward-thinking organizations that are developing new and innovative ways to advance gender equity and strengthen their organizations.”

Open the Door and Nurture: Exec VP On How To Recruit, Hire, Retain Diverse Tech Candidates

Talent is ubiquitous. Opportunity is not. Getting in the door is key.”

Montreece Smith, executive vice president of people for Per Scholas, a national tech training initiative with 20 campuses and a staff of 500, placing 20,000 alumni at more than 850 employer partners, says she is helping to drive the company mission of opening doors to tech careers for persons of color.

“We are changing the face of tech,” says Smith.

Myth Busting: Use Your Power To Innovate and Increase Workplace Equity

You must pull up the next person in line.

Katica Roy, gender economist and CEO of Pipeline Equity, is the daughter and sister of refugees. Her family came to America from Hungary and rebuilt their lives here because of help they received.

Career success, Event, Take The Lead Events, Women Career SuccessMichele WeldonSeptember 2, 2022DEI, Power Up Conference, The Big Re, EquityComment

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