The Situation
68 of 74 Fortune 100 companies are retreating from DEI commitments. Amazon, Meta, McDonald's, Ford - they're all racing to delete diversity from their corporate vocabulary. UK headhunters report the return of all-male shortlists.
This mass retreat reveals something nobody's talking about.
Three Unconventional Truths
1. The Retreat Is Your Competitive Advantage
While competitors abandon proven performance enhancers due to political pressure, they're creating talent pools and market opportunities for those who recognise the pattern. When everyone zigs, zag.
2. Anti-Fragile Beats Resilient
Resilient inclusion survives challenges. Anti-fragile inclusion grows stronger under pressure. The current backlash perfectly separates operational inclusion (thriving) from programmatic theatre (collapsing). One grows from crisis, the other dies from it.
3. Individual Leaders Have More Power Than They Realise
Team environments reflect leadership behaviour more than corporate policy. When institutional support evaporates, individual leaders who maintain inclusive practices create cultures that operate independently of organisational mandates. Stop waiting for permission.
The Framework
Instead of DEI programmes, build:
- Behavioural Integration (daily leadership practices)
- Relationship Infrastructure (authentic connections)
- Cultural Influence (modelling regardless of messaging)
The Bottom Line
Corporate cowardice has done us a favour: brutal clarity about which inclusion practices were genuine versus performative. This moment separates leaders who need permission from those who take responsibility.
Choose accordingly.
