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- Fed judge refuses to block VC’s grant program for Black women 👏🏾, UK’s financial sector proposing tougher DEI standards, & the #1 skill leaders and DEI pros need!
Fed judge refuses to block VC’s grant program for Black women 👏🏾, UK’s financial sector proposing tougher DEI standards, & the #1 skill leaders and DEI pros need!
DEI in 5: Biweekly DEI News

Last week, I attended Fast Company's Innovation Festival and had the privilege of listening to some incredible talks by individuals such as:
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, who, inspired by their daughter, created a haircare line for babies with kinky/coily hair textures.
Tracee Ellis-Ross, who also launched a haircare line inspired by her own challenges with kinky/coily hair (like needing more conditioner than shampoo—I felt sooo seen 🙌🏾).
Halle Berry, the current Chief Communications Officer of biotech company Pendulum, which specializes in products for gut health. Berry shared how Pendulum’s products directly improved her A1C levels, which is especially important for someone like her who has had type 1 diabetes since her early 20s.
Hopefully, you picked up on a common theme from the aforementioned: all folks are aiming to solve a problem and/or fill a need, specifically one that's important to them.
The event also featured discussions on topics such as accessibility in design, ESG, physical office spaces in a post-pandemic world, rethinking leadership, mental health, and more. It truly was an innovation summit filled with inspiration, ideas, questions, and much more.
However, the talk that stood out to me the most was delivered by Caroline Wanga, the CEO of Essence Ventures. Although I had heard her name a few weeks prior, experiencing her in person was truly life-changing. She took the stage wearing a striking black and white gingham-printed dress (or perhaps it was a top and skirt combo—unclear, but either way, it was 🔥) with a black cover-up top featuring large diamond-shaped openings. Her orange and burgundy dyed locs were styled in THE perfect bun, resembling the shape of a hot air balloon. Completing her look, she sported matching gingham sneakers adorned with black pompoms. Her shiny silver earrings, rings, and bracelet were impossible to miss, making a powerful statement. Rhinestones embellished her eyelids, and her makeup was #flawless. I could go on, really…
You might be wondering why I'm describing her appearance in such detail, but I assure you, it matters. It matters because it was one of the many instances of authenticity that she not only spoke about but also embodied (if walking the talk was a person, she is her, her is she 🙌🏾).
As someone who has gradually adjusted their appearance over time, it felt incredibly validating to know that I haven't been alone in this journey. Throughout my career, I've slooowwwly embraced who I REALLY am. I’ve acquired a number of visible piercings, gotten a visible tattoo on my arm, worn my hair in various styles and colors (now, unafraid to rock my 4c fro), and I absolutely do NOT own a black or blue blazer (as Wanga jokingly said was not for her during last week’s talk 😅). And guess what? Not once has it taken away from my ability to thrive and do my best work. In fact, it’s allowed me to free my mind, focusing less on how I look and am perceived by others, and more on the work that I’m doing and the impact that I’m having.
All of this leads to a common theme: authenticity. In fact, several panelists throughout last week’s conference deemed authenticity as a leadership imperative—one even validated that it was the #1 skill for leaders moving forward.
I invite you to check out the latest episode of DEI in 5 on YouTube (also linked above 👆🏾) to learn more about my visit to the Fast Company Innovation Festival and why I firmly believe that authenticity is the number one skill leaders, including DEI practitioners (I’m talking to myself here too), need in our hyperconnected, AI-powered, capitalistic society. 😊
The Latest DEI News 👇🏾
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Research
Does high-quality performance feedback improve retention? [Textio]: “Textio’s newest research on job performance feedback in the workplace continues to show pervasive patterns of inequity in 2023. In addition to being underrepresented, women and people of color consistently receive lower-quality feedback than white men, and as a result they’re far more likely to leave your company within a year.”
Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and Analytical Aptitude: What We (Don’t) Talk about When We Talk about Diversity [SHRM]: “This project was an initial exploration into the subtle messages communicated in organizations' discussions of DEI. The results of this research provide a richer picture of the common ways that organizations frame discussions around DEI and provide initial evidence for possible consequences of it. For example, our results suggest that organizations frequently discuss DEI initiatives in ways that may contribute to—or, at least, fail to mitigate—opposition to diversity efforts and can contribute to the further marginalization of employees who might be expected to benefit the most.”
Inclusive Leadership
The Anxious Micromanager: Why some leaders become too controlling and how they find the right balance [HBR]: “The command-and-control management style has been on the decline for decades. Research has shown that companies perform better when leaders empower, encourage, and coach employees instead of delivering orders, micromanaging, and meting out discipline. Nonetheless, that style remains prevalent. At root, the tendency to micromanage stems from a leader’s own anxiety and lack of confidence. To stop overrelying on a command-and-control style, leaders should look inward to understand what causes it.”
What Happens When the Boss Invites You to Bible Study? [NYT]: “Secular companies have invited employees to bring their “whole selves” to work. That increasingly includes their religion.“
Politics & Law
Tougher diversity standards proposed for finance sector in misconduct crackdown [Yahoo Finance UK]: “The UK’s financial sector could face tougher standards for diversity and inclusion in a bid to clamp down on workplace bullying and sexual harassment, under new proposals by financial regulators. Larger companies will come under more scrutiny after a string of sexual assault allegations have emerged at influential firms in the City. Proposed new measures aim to make it easier for staff members to speak out or challenge behaviour they see at their firm.”
Illinois is now the first state to eliminate cash bail [NPR]: “…judges in Illinois can no longer order people accused of crimes to pay money to get out of jail while awaiting trial. A handful of states have eased rules around cash bail, but Illinois is the first to ban it completely. Studies show that cash bail disproportionately affects Black, Latino and low-income people.”
Thousands gather in GTA for protests over gender, sexual identity in school curriculum, 1 arrested [CBC]: “Protests and counter-protests framed around gender and sexual education in schools took place across the Greater Toronto Area Wednesday, with many more happening across the country. The initial protests were organized under the banner of the ‘1 Million March for Children,’with the group's website saying its intent is to "protect our children from indoctrination and sexualization." Counter-protests were organized in response, with groups meeting at places like Queen's Park, where thousands gathered.”
Black Man Wrongfully Jailed After Facial Recognition Match Sues Police [POCIT]: “Randal Quran Reid spent almost a week in jail after Louisiana police wrongly identified him using facial recognition software. He has now filed a lawsuit against them.”
Workplace, Professional Development, & Employee Wellbeing
20 Ways Companies Can Ensure The Well-Being Of Managers And Employees [Forbes]: “Managers, who are so often the first line of defense in addressing employee wellness and workplace stress, frequently lack the necessary training and support to deal with these complex issues effectively. Moreover, managers are not immune to the same pressures that weigh on their teams: heavy workloads, demanding roles and long work hours… Forbes Coaches Council members discuss the urgent need for companies to reevaluate their approach to ensuring employee well-being and focus on providing sufficient support to managerial staff.”
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Life, Society, & Environmental
Gymnastics Ireland ‘deeply sorry’ to Black girl ignored at medal ceremony [Aljazeera]: “Ireland’s gymnastics federation has apologised for the allegedly racist treatment of a young Black gymnast who was skipped by an official handing out medals to a row of girls last year. Footage posted on social media last week of an event in Dublin in 2022 showed the official appearing to snub the girl, the only Black gymnast in the lineup, who looked bewildered.”
Online, ‘unalive’ means death or suicide. Experts say it might help kids discuss those things [AP]: “Language has always evolved. New words have always popped up. Teenagers have often led the way. But the internet and online life pave the way for it to happen more quickly. In this case, words created within a digital setting to evade rules are now jumping the fences from virtual spaces into real ones and permeating spoken language, especially among young people. Beyond being interesting linguistic footnotes, the terms suggest ways that kids can safely discuss and understand serious matters while using a vocabulary that science — and the adults in their lives — might see as too casual or dangerously naive.”
How AI Affects Black Communities: At CBC, Experts Talk Diversity Concerns, Hopes For Artificial Intelligence [News One]: “The impact on minority communities – especially the Black community – is not considered until something goes wrong,” California Congresswoman Barbara Lee said Wednesday. Lee sounded the alarm while speaking during a panel discussion that she was co-hosting at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. It was one of several sessions about AI planned during the week of policy conferences in the nation’s capital about issues impacting African Americans and the global Black community, accentuating the importance of both the topic and the moment. “AI bias and discrimination are a direct result of a lack of diversity of the teams creating the models,” Lee continued before emphasizing: “No diversity, no Black lens.”
That’s all for today!
Be well,
Adriele
P.S. If you aren’t already subscribed to DEI in 5 on YouTube, what are you waiting for? 🙃
P.S.S. This newsletter will continue biweekly, but won’t necessarily be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.