Rethinking DEI? Read This First to Understand the Risks.
- Angela Cooper (she | her), Founder and CEO
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure...
...especially now - when political crosswinds are intensifying, when headlines cast doubt on once-common programs, and when the fear of doing the “wrong” thing looms large. For many companies, that pressure has led to a decision that now appears shortsighted: scaling back or scrapping DEI efforts without assessing the full landscape of risk and reward.
But here's what the latest data reveals:
One in three companies that rolled back DEI initiatives are now reinstating them. (Source: ResumeTemplates.com)
Why? Because the fallout was greater than expected.
Employees spoke up.
Customers boycotted.
Business partnerships ended.
Diverse talent departed.
Brand reputation took a hit.
Internal conflict escalated.
Shareholders pushed back.
And competitors who remained committed - quietly or publicly - pulled ahead.
This moment calls for something much more than reactionary speed. It calls for discernment. Strategic leaders know that before making big moves, they must pause and thoroughly assess the interplay of multiple risks and rewards.
That’s why we've created the DEI Risk & Opportunity Roadmap - a free, practical tool to help organizations evaluate the full spectrum of consequences tied to decisions about diversity, equity, and inclusion in today's environment.
The roadmap walks you through six critical checkpoints:
Legal & compliance: Are we legally exposed under new state or federal guidance?
Talent & culture health: How are our people experiencing our choices?
Discrimination risk: Are our claims or internal complaints increasing?
Reputational and stakeholder impact: What do our clients, funders, and communities expect of us now?
Mission and values alignment: Are we still who we say we are?
Market and competitive position: Are our peers becoming more attractive?
Each checkpoint includes guiding questions, strategic action prompts, and a traffic-light rating system to visualize areas of risk, misalignment, or opportunity.
Before you enter fight, flight, or freeze mode, pause. Get your team together. Ask the right questions and seek answers that ground your next steps in clarity.
🧭 Download the full Roadmap here.
It’s free, and it's built to support your confident decision-making:
Here's the reality. We don’t need to abandon this work - we need to evolve it.
Ground it in integrity.
Align it with business strategy.
Make it about people, and trust that the business performance will follow.
Healthy culture drives better results. Are you shaping a culture where everyone can operate at their best?
If you're looking to craft a healthier culture at your organization, we can help. Learn more about Mindpower Strategic's approach here:
