Topic: “The Future of DEI”
Thursday, February 20th, 2025 at 10:00 am to 11:30 am Pacific time.
In the first weeks of 2025, we have certainly seen significant changes – particularly in the United States. And those changes are already impacting other countries around the world. In our January 2025 water cooler, we asked what topics we should to discuss in 2025. Those that rose to the top of that conversation included DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion); the practical implementation of HCAI (Human Centered Artificial Intelligence) in today’s world; the Future of Global Trade – world-wide collaboration or competitive dominance; and Climate Change and Sustainability. Each of these topics is complex and multi-faceted, and we’ll discuss each one in depth over the next months. Let’s start with DEI in February.
What are the issues we face in the realm of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? The Trump administration has banned DEI initiatives in the federal government and is proposing that MEI (merit, excellence and intelligence) is a more equitable and effective method for ensuring performance excellence. According to Forbes, “A number of companies have recently rolled back their DEI programs in favor of MEI initiatives, including Meta, McDonald’s, Walmart, Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Tractor Supply Company, Amazon, and Boeing”. Yet other companies are sticking to their DEI plans and strategies: JPMorgan Chase, Apple, Costco, Kroger, Disney and NBC Universal are among those who maintain their commitment to DEI. (Forbes, February 1, 2025).
- What are the implications of shutting down DEI initiatives?
- Do DEI programs mean that we are lowering standards of qualifications, performance, and outcomes?
- Can we be color-blind, gender-blind, and merit-based without DEI programs?
- What do we stand to gain and to lose without DEI?
- Do MEI initiatives provide similar outcomes to the DEI programs?
- Are the Trump political appointees being selected based on merit?
- Is there a global impact from this US-based policy shift?
- What can we do now? What might be our next steps?
Join us and our colleagues at the Virtual Water Cooler for this important deliberation. We’ll meet at the Virtual Water Cooler on 20 February 2025 at 10:00am (pacific time) for this deliberation facilitated by Pam Posey and Pete Sorenson.
Best wishes,
Pam Posey and Pete Sorenson (on behalf of the STS Roundtable)
