Navigating DEI Management in Post-Affirmative Action Era

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In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed decades of progressive policymaking toward creating equitable opportunities for historically marginalized racial communities with its ruling against race-conscious admissions policies in higher education. In corporate America, hiring and retention programs designed to increase workplace diversity are most effective when organizations work toward measurable and achievable goals. Because the court decision targeted race-conscious admissions policies, its effects are anticipated to reverberate through diversity recruitment, employee engagement, learning and development, community engagement, corporate philanthropy, and other DEI-focused programs and initiatives in various industries.

As a follow-up to the WTIA Policy Series presentation, “Eye on Affirmative Action: A Shifting Policy Landscape & Its Impact on Tech”, the WTIA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center of Excellence brought together a panel of DEI leaders from academia and industry to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court decision on workplace DEI. Panelists shared their perspectives about strengthening their resolve to advocate for racial equity while navigating objections and roadblocks.