Gregory Autin | March 19, 2025
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are different but complementary concepts. Diversity focuses on the representation of different groups in the organization. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and needs. Inclusion is about involving individuals and groups with their unique personal characteristics and experience. Companies seeking to promote strong diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices throughout their operations must allocate the appropriate resources and opportunities according to the individual circumstances balanced with the identity, skills, and experience of the other stakeholders. They must implement all three aspects of DEI for people to contribute their unique identity, skills, and experience and to reap its full benefits.
Research consistently demonstrates the long-term benefits of inclusive policy-making and sustained diversity and inclusion programs, making inclusion a strategic imperative that promotes sustainable growth and resilience in the face of global risks and challenges. Anchoring diversity and inclusion in the business world and global economy is becoming increasingly critical for reviving growth, accelerating innovation, reducing inequalities and bolstering resilience. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouses 2025 – Insight Report by the World Economic Forum builds on the work of its diversity, equity and inclusion program and provides an overview of the latest trends and emerging practices in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in organizations and economies across the world.
Anti-ESG proposals flooded U.S. corporate annual meeting agendas in 2024 by shareholder proponents who do not support limiting corporate environmental impacts, promoting diversity, or providing investors with more ESG disclosure, filing more than 100 shareholder proposals as of June 30, 2024. Support averaged only 1.9% of shares cast, while 98% opposed the proposals. The anti-ESG proposals continued to focus largely on disrupting the current consensus that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) improves companies and benefits investors. But the proponents continued to suggest that corporate political involvement favors liberals and aim at efforts to mitigate climate change as well as DEI. A new batch of right-wing evangelical groups also joined long-time anti-ESG proponents in 2024.
