In an Age of Crisis, DE&I Is Leadership’s Best Hope

As global crises mount—from climate change and AI disruption to rising authoritarianism—leaders face a stark reality: the old models of command-and-control leadership are failing. In their place, a new model is emerging, rooted in ethical interdependence, collective care, and resilience. According to IMD, at the heart of this shift lies a practice under attack: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).

Once embraced as a commitment to fairness and belonging, DE&I is now under siege by critics branding it “woke” and incompatible with meritocracy. These attacks, often rooted in fear and misinformation, are gaining traction. Organizations are quietly sidelining DE&I efforts, erasing words like “equity” and “inclusion” from policies, and cutting key roles. But abandoning DE&I is not just a symbolic retreat—it risks undermining our capacity to adapt to an increasingly unstable world.

Bias, whether conscious or not, governs much of how we hire, promote, and interact. Left unaddressed, it leads to sameness—a shortcut our brains take that hinders innovation and stifles potential. DE&I counters this tendency by expanding access, encouraging diverse perspectives, and creating systems that foster fairness. It doesn’t undermine merit—it clears the path for it.

Equity requires more than good intentions. It demands systemic change—revisiting outdated policies, rethinking norms, and redesigning structures that silently perpetuate inequality. Inclusion, too, is more than representation. It is about building spaces where people of all backgrounds can thrive, be heard, and take risks without fear.

Leaders must ask: What kind of culture are we creating? What biases are baked into our systems? And, crucially, what do we lose when we exclude?

DE&I is not a feel-good initiative—it’s a strategic imperative. Done right, it helps teams navigate complexity, unlock innovation, and stay grounded amid volatility. In a world of increasing uncertainty, DE&I isn’t a luxury. It’s leadership.

To dismantle DE&I now would be a costly mistake. The future demands courage, clarity, and the collective capacity to face the unknown—together. That’s what DE&I, at its best, makes possible.