Happy New Year! As we kick off 2025, the air is thick with uncertainty, and for many, apprehension. Following the recent election, we’re entering a new era where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—or DEI—programs are under unprecedented scrutiny. The new presidential administration has made its intentions clear: dismantling DEI initiatives across government sectors, college campuses, and even the military. While this agenda may be rooted in political strategy, its ripple effects could extend into the corporate world, leaving many organizations questioning the future of their Chief Diversity Officer roles and DEI teams.
But before we let this news hijack our hope for the future, I invite you to join me in reimagining the path forward with clarity, creativity, and resilience by starting the year with “Yes, and…”
In improv, the phrase “yes, and…” keeps the energy moving forward. It’s a way of acknowledging what’s happening while building on it to create something new. So instead of responding to these challenges with “no, but…” let’s embrace a “yes, and…” mindset. Yes, DEI is under fire—and we can use this as an opportunity to reframe how we cultivate inclusion and belonging within our workplaces. When we shift the conversation from compliance to culture, we position ourselves to do more than survive this moment—we can thrive in it by reimagining what inclusion looks like beyond politics.