Over the past year, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts have faced severe backlash, especially in the United States, prompting many organizations to quietly abandon their initiatives. Some claim “mission accomplished.” The data says otherwise.
In Episode 5 of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, host Michael Green sits down with Elmira Bayrasli, former diplomat, author, professor, and CEO of Interruptrr, to challenge the notion that DEI was simply a fleeting trend. They explore why inclusion is one of the world’s weakest areas of progress and why abandoning it now poses a severe risk to business and society.
Green notes that inclusion is one of the areas where major countries, including the US and UK, have actually been going backward in recent years, according to the Global Social Progress Index.
Bayrasli supports this with her research:
Diversity is not a performative act, but a fundamental business and policy necessity.
The guests argue that real change requires tackling the culture itself. They discuss how simple workplace norms (like socializing rituals or rigid office hours) can systematically exclude women. Additionally, Bayrasli examines the impossible bind many women leaders face: being labeled “bossy” for being decisive or “weak” for soliciting opinions.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn into American politics. Why has the US, despite its innovation, never elected a woman president? Bayrasli offers an insightful analysis that points to a fundamental issue with the US government's structure compared to that of parliamentary systems in Europe.
Amid all the turbulence, is there hope for a resurgence of DEI? Listen to the episode to learn more.
Over the past year, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts have faced severe backlash, especially in the United States, prompting many organizations to quietly abandon their initiatives. Some claim “mission accomplished.” The data says otherwise.
In Episode 5 of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, host Michael Green sits down with Elmira Bayrasli, former diplomat, author, professor, and CEO of Interruptrr, to challenge the notion that DEI was simply a fleeting trend. They explore why inclusion is one of the world’s weakest areas of progress and why abandoning it now poses a severe risk to business and society.
Green notes that inclusion is one of the areas where major countries, including the US and UK, have actually been going backward in recent years, according to the Global Social Progress Index.
Bayrasli supports this with her research:
Diversity is not a performative act, but a fundamental business and policy necessity.
The guests argue that real change requires tackling the culture itself. They discuss how simple workplace norms (like socializing rituals or rigid office hours) can systematically exclude women. Additionally, Bayrasli examines the impossible bind many women leaders face: being labeled “bossy” for being decisive or “weak” for soliciting opinions.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn into American politics. Why has the US, despite its innovation, never elected a woman president? Bayrasli offers an insightful analysis that points to a fundamental issue with the US government's structure compared to that of parliamentary systems in Europe.
Amid all the turbulence, is there hope for a resurgence of DEI? Listen to the episode to learn more.
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