The new administration has killed all federal DEI initiatives and has essentially told top private companies to do the same if they want to continue having a fruitful relationship.
 
However, the spirit of DEI is being lost. A common misconception about DEI is that it stands in opposition to meritocracy, as if prioritizing DEI somehow compromises the pursuit of excellence. In reality, DEI and meritocracy are not competing ideas—they are complementary. A true meritocracy can only function when there is an inclusive system in place to ensure that talent is recognized and rewarded based on ability, not constrained by bias or systemic barriers.
 
Sara Gutierrez, Chief Science Officer at SHL, a talent acquisition and management platform, who leads many DEI initiatives at SHL believes that DEI actually leads to better and more productive teams:
 
“Unfortunately, in recent years, DEI has become a loaded term—misunderstood and misrepresented in ways that stray from its true purpose. Instead of being seen as a framework for creating stronger, more effective teams by broadening access to talent and perspectives, it has too often been framed as a zero-sum game or a box-checking exercise.
 
DEI initiatives, at their core, are about expanding access to opportunities so that the best individuals—regardless of background—have the chance to contribute at the highest level. It ensures that hiring, promotions, and leadership decisions are based on capability and potential, not just familiarity or traditional pipelines that may unintentionally exclude high-caliber talent.
 
When organizations embrace DEI in this way, they actually strengthen meritocracy. By bringing in diverse perspectives, skill sets, and ways of thinking, they widen the talent pool and create an environment where the best ideas win. In contrast, a rigid, exclusionary system that claims to be meritocratic but overlooks capable individuals due to unconscious bias or structural barriers is not a true meritocracy at all—it’s just reinforcing the status quo.”
 
When we strip away the noise, DEI is simply about building the strongest teams by recognizing that excellence comes in many forms. It’s not about choosing one group over another, but rather about creating the conditions where the most capable individuals, regardless of background, have the opportunity to contribute at the highest level. 
 
If we shift the conversation back to that reality, DEI stops being a divisive term and returns to what it truly is: a commitment to fairness, opportunity, and performance.
 
Please let me know if you would like to use Sara’s quote or would like additional commentary from her via email. 
 
If you'd like an interview, I’d love to connect you with Sara to further discuss DEI in 2025 – let me know your availability in the coming weeks.