Lily Zheng - Fixing Fairness: A New Paradigm for DEI

Today's guest is Lily Zheng, a strategist and consultant who has spent the last decade working with organizations of every size — from small nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies — helping them build workplaces that actually work for everyone. In a field often clouded by ideology, misinformation, and polarization, Lily brings something refreshingly different: data, systems thinking, and practical results.They were a guest on the podcast before, so today we just focus on their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash Into Progress for All , Lily argues that the conversation around DEI has gone off track — not because fairness doesn’t matter, but because we’ve failed to communicate and implement it effectively. Instead of slogans or superficial programs, they offer FAIR - a framework built around measurable outcomes, systems change, coalition-building, and true win-win solutions.In this conversation, we explore:Why being “pro-diversity” isn’t the same as creating fair systemsThe surprising data gap between support for diversity and belief in DEI programsWhat actually works — and what has failed — over 60 years of workplace reformHow leaders can build coalitions across differenceAnd why fairness may be the language that can move us forwardContact Dino at: [email protected]:lilyzheng.coal4ep.comAdditional Guest Links:Lily on AL4EPLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308Instagram: @lilyzheng308Lily on SubstackBooks:Fixing FairnessReconstructing DEI DEI DeconstructedAuthentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino CattaneoDino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneoPodcast Instagram – @al4edp Podcast Twitter – @al4edpPodcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edpMusicSusan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com