Reconstructing Inclusion S1E14: Iatrogenesis & Agency: How can DEI practitioners/supporters discern and evolve the current state of practice?

In this episode of the ‘Reconstructing Inclusion’ podcast, Amri expresses concerns over the perceived threats to DEI, outlining that the resistance stems from a misunderstanding of what DEI truly signifies, beyond just representation and affirmative action. He explores the concept of 'Iatrogenic effects'—a medical term, indicating a treatment that causes more harm than good. Amri draws parallels between such unintended negative outcomes in healthcare and similar phenomena observed in DEI implementations, where initiatives sometimes inadvertently foster dependency, exclusivity, or counter-productive tensions. Through personal anecdotes and references to scholarly works, Amri makes the case for a reevaluation of DEI strategies, urging a shift towards inclusivity, agency, and a methodical questioning of DEI practices to ensure they foster genuine progress rather than unintended setbacks. Lastly, he encourages DEI practitioners and supporters to see current criticisms not as an attack but as an opportunity to refine and advance their approaches to truly make organizational and societal change. Timestamps:00:15 Understanding DEI and Its Opportunities00:45 The Current State of DEI01:25 Defining DEI and Its Importance02:28 The Challenges and Misconceptions of DEI06:03 The Concept of Iatrogenesis in DEI11:18 The Impact of Iatrogenesis in DEI14:18 The Role of Exclusivity in DEI31:02 The Importance of Agency in DEI34:41 The Role of Intentional Broadening in DEI38:50 The Future of DEI40:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts About the HostAs CEO/Founder of Inclusion Wins, Amri B. Johnson and a virtual collective of partners converge organizational purpose to create global impact with a lens of inclusion.His theory of change is focused on building ‘Inclusion Systems.’ Inclusion systems provide direction and momentum in the complexity of organizations that allow them to be antifragile—leaning into and engaging with resistance, stressors, disruptions, and disequilibrium and being stronger as a result of such engagement.His book, Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable outlines how organizations can create inclusion-normative cultures and build approaches to DEI that are designed for and with everyone, unambiguously prioritized, and purpose-aligned.Born in Topeka, Kansas (USA), Amri has worked and lived in the U.S., Brazil, and currently lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife Martina and their three kids. Your support means a lot!Like this episode? We'd greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to write a review, even if it's just one sentence!Grab a copy of Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable: https://amzn.to/45AYFFPSign up for the Reconstructing Inclusion newsletter on Substack: https://reconstructinginclusion.substack.com/Connect with Amri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrijohnson/Let's discuss where your inclusion policies are effective and how to overcome challenges by creating an Inclusion System. > https://inclusionwins.com/contact This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reconstructinginclusion.substack.com/subscribe