DEIB as Risk Management: Why Insurance Is the Canary in the Coal Mine - with guest James Felton Keith

In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo is joined by James Felton Keith, Chairperson of the ISO-30415:DISM standard for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and CEO of Inclusion Score Companies. Together, they explore why insurance is a leading indicator of people management risks—and how DEIB is becoming a critical component of risk strategy across industries.James shares the journey behind developing the ISO standard for DEIB, the impact of employment practices liability on insurance markets, and the practical ways organizations can use DEIB standards to improve compliance, reduce litigation risk, and build resilient teams. From the roles of brokers and underwriters to the pitfalls of ad hoc inclusion efforts, this episode breaks down what leaders need to know now.What We Cover in This Episode:James Felton Keith’s career path from engineering and politics to global DEIB leadershipThe development of the ISO-30415:DISM DEIB standardHow DEIB intersects with insurance, risk management, and complianceThe rise of Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) and its implicationsUnderstanding the roles of brokers and underwriters in DEIB riskLeadership’s role in creating feedback loops and belongingReal-world examples of DEIB missteps—and how to avoid themResources & Links:Learn more at InclusionScore.orgExplore the ISO-30415:DISM standard on ISO.orgCheck out this article in Insurance JournalConnect with James Felton Keith on LinkedInDEIB Resources + tools in the show notes at Two Piers ConsultingConnect with Us:Follow Two Piers Consulting on LinkedInLearn more about our work at twopiersconsulting.comSubscribe & Share: If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with your network. Every listen helps us build a more inclusive, equitable future of work.