Our Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace series is a global platform dedicated to fostering open conversations and learning around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in workplaces and communities worldwide. Since 2020, these monthly sessions have brought together professionals, leaders, and advocates from across the globe to explore best practices, share personal experiences, and discuss actionable strategies for creating more inclusive environments. These free, virtual sessions serve as a space for collective growth, critical reflection, and meaningful dialogue on DEI’s evolving role in society.
We are beginning 2025 with a topic that is more relevant than ever: Is DEI Dead? Rationale For and Against
As organizations across industries grapple with changing societal expectations, economic pressures, and political polarization, the relevance and future of DEI initiatives are under scrutiny on a global scale. In this climate of increasing pushback against DEI initiatives, from budget cuts to critiques of their effectiveness, the question looms large: is DEI as a framework for change still relevant? Critics argue that DEI has become a checkbox exercise, stripped of its transformative potential, while advocates contend that it’s more critical than ever as organizations navigate systemic inequities and social tensions.
This month, we confront the hard truths and polarizing opinions around DEI:
- Is DEI failing, or are we failing DEI?
- How do organizations strike a balance between accountability and impact?
- What does the future of workplace equity look like in the face of resistance and fatigue?
This session is designed to provoke thought, spark dialogue, and inspire action. We’ll explore:
✔ The arguments for and against DEI’s relevance and effectiveness.
✔ How external forces—economic pressures, political polarization, and social movements—are reshaping DEI efforts.
✔ Innovative approaches to creating authentic, systemic change beyond traditional DEI frameworks.
DEI has been a focal point in workplaces over the past decade, but the rise of terms like “DEI fatigue,” political backlash, and doubts about measurable impact have challenged its trajectory. Join us as we tackle these critical issues head-on, offering space for constructive debate and shared learning.
This session is for professionals, leaders, and changemakers who arere navigating the complexities of DEI, whether as advocates or skeptics.
Our speakers include Chisom Udeze and Dr. Poornima Luthra.
Join us for this digital discussion on January, 29, 2025 at 13.00 CET by RSVP-ing below.
RSVP Below!
About Our Speakers:
Chisom Udeze (She/Her), Economist, Strategist & Founder of Diversify
Chisom is an accomplished Economist, Strategist, Investor, and Founder with nearly two decades of experience leading impact-driven companies and actioning societal change. She serves on multiple boards, including as chair, and holds advisory roles across three continents.
Her global work spans seven countries and includes collaborations with organizations like the European Commission and Boston Consulting Group. Chisom champions democracy, sustainability, justice, and community driven and multi-stakeholder change-making. She also spearheads the Diversify Nordics Summit, a leading conference for leadership and innovation. A passionate advocate for mental health, Chisom enjoys tennis, reading, writing, and has published on Forbes.
Dr. Poornima Luthra (She/ Her), Author, Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School & TalentED Founder
Dr. Poornima Luthra is a recognized author, keynote speaker, facilitator/ trainer, consultant, and leading practitioner-academic in the field of talent management and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She is the author of Leading Through Bias, The Art of Active Allyship, and Diversifying Diversity and is a contributor to Harvard Business Review on topics related to DEI.
Dr. Poornima is an Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School where she works to effectively bring together academic rigor with practical application. She draws on over eighteen years of research, teaching experience, and expertise in the field of talent management and DEI in Asia and Europe. As the Founder of TalentED Consultancy, she provides effective DEI thought-leadership from a global perspective, workshops, and consultancy services for organisations who are determined to nurture inclusive workplaces. Dr. Poornima is an engaging speaker that has been invited to share her ideas on stages at various global organizations and on platforms such as TEDx, Thinkers50, and the Diversify Nordics Summit.
