CMCL - When HR Loses Its Way: DEI, SHRM, and the Future of Work with Tara Turk-Haynes

In this episode of Changing Minds and Changing Lives, host Julie Sowash, CEO of Catch 22 Group and the Job Board Doctor, and founder of Disability Solutions, sits down with Tara Turk-Haynes — strategist, storyteller, equity activator, and founding member of Hacking HR — for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about the state of DEI in today’s workplaces and the growing controversy surrounding SHRM’s shift away from diversity, equity, and inclusion.Together, Julie and Tara unpack how SHRM’s recent decisions — including its rebranding of DEI, the leadership of CEO Johnny C. Taylor, and the 2025 SHRM Blueprint Conference featuring keynote panelists Van Jones and Robby Starbuck — signal deeper issues about values, leadership, and the future of human resources.Tara shares her personal journey from administrative assistant to executive leader, the lessons she’s learned about data-driven inclusion, and why equity — not just diversity or inclusion — is what truly transforms workplaces. The two also discuss how performative allyship, “chameleon leadership,” and the erosion of worker-centered advocacy threaten progress, and what individuals can do to push back.If you care about the future of work, human-centered leadership, and how organizations can uphold equity even in a polarized environment, this is a must-listen conversation.✨ Key Topics:· SHRM’s controversial move from DEI to “I&D” and what it really means· How leadership values shape (and sometimes distort) workplace culture· The impact of politics and performative allyship on HR credibility· Why data and empathy must coexist in equitable workplaces· Practical ways HR pros and employees can take action locallyNotes: Guest:Tara Turk-Haynes — Strategist, storyteller, and equity activator; founder of Equity Activations; featured in Fast Company and Harvard Business Review; known for blending strategy, creativity, and inclusion to build sustainable change.