Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) has shot to the top of the corporate agenda as people have embraced the need for genuine change. Business leaders have recognized that investing in DE&I is good for business: It attracts top talent, customers, and prospects who value and support inclusive and diverse organizations that make a genuine commitment to protecting all of their people.

Research by Deloitte backs up the case and shows that “by emphasizing DEI on all levels of the organization and increasing the opportunities available to frontline workers [many of whom are minorities], organizations could gain loyalty from both their workforce and customers.” The same research shows that organizations with effective inclusion policies enjoy 50 percent lower turnover than those without. And research by McKinsey shows that organizations with high gender and ethnic diversity have higher profitability margins than their competitors. But the tides are changing. A growing “anti-woke” movement condemns DE&I initiatives, claiming they create inequalities.