Pilot Light

Sometimes it's tough to maintain a flicker of light in vast darkness. In this week's episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa lift up those businesses that are resisting DEI rollbacks. Even in the face of retaliation from the White House, many have the courage to do so. Finally, the hosts discuss how many DEI professionals are deciding whether to stay, leave, or recover from the work in the current hostile climate.Word of the Week [0:30]: Toxic Hope / Toxic Positivity: It's one thing when we use toxic positivity to avoid our feelings. It's a new level of toxicity when we keep ourselves stuck in bad situations with hopeful internal fairy tale narratives.Phase 1 [9:01]: Business Resistance: There are some businesses that pre-emptively started rolling back their DEI initiatives. But there are others like Costco, Apple, and e.l.f. that stood up and doubled down.Phase 2 [19:50]: Preemptive Retaliation: In other workplace settings, we know what retaliation looks like. Yet, workplace retaliation takes on new meaning when the President of the United States mercilessly goes after his (perceived) foes in the federal government.Phase 3 [34:10]: The Ultimate Pivot: Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa have noticed that our current pressurized situation is forcing many DEI professionals to make hard decisions. Should they stay, should they leave, or should they simply recover from the hard work and plan their next move?Mentioned in the show5 Signs You’re Clinging To Toxic Hope - Mind JournalCostco defends its diversity policies as other U.S. companies scale back | Benefits Canada.comWhat is an executive order? Here’s what the tool can and can’t do | PBS NewsThe power of presidential executive orders and their limits | PBS NewsWhy I Stepped Away from the Best Job I'd Ever Had... and the Long-Term Implications of Moving Away from DEI to Appease Bullies | LinkedIn8 Phases of the DEI Practitioner Life Cycle - LinkedIn