Why Competition Is Making Us All Less Successful - with Ruchika Malhotra

Have you ever wondered why some women of color seem to get ahead while black women consistently face the worst workplace experiences?Award-winning author and inclusion strategist Ruchika Malhotra joins host Amelia Ransom for an unflinching conversation about privilege, competition, and what it really takes to build inclusive workplaces. Drawing from her book Inclusion on Purpose and her upcoming release NonCompete, Ruchika shares data-driven insights about workplace dynamics, the power of storytelling to build empathy, and why our hyper-competitive culture is actually holding us all back. This conversation tackles the uncomfortable truths about who benefits from current systems and offers practical frameworks for creating real change.KEY TAKEAWAYS·  Anti-blackness is a global phenomenon that shows up consistently in workplace data across countries and cultures·  Privilege and oppression can coexist — you can hold both simultaneously without contradiction·  Competition often rewards conformity rather than excellence, keeping us stuck in limiting patterns·  Psychological safety is essential for inclusion — people need to know they can take risks and still belong·  The best way to build empathy and change minds is through storytelling, not data dumpsGUEST BIORuchika Malhotra is an award-winning author, speaker, and inclusion strategist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes. She is the author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work and the forthcoming NonCompete, which challenges how competition and meritocracy work against equity. Born in North India, raised in Singapore, educated in London, and now based in the US, Ruchika brings a global perspective to understanding workplace dynamics and systemic change.LINKS & RESOURCES·  Inclusion on Purpose by Ruchika Malhotra·  Caste by Isabel Wilkerson·  The Curb-Cut Effect research·  Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'NeilCONNECT WITH USFollow DEI AF: Twitter: @deiafpodcastInstagram: @deiafpodcastTikTok: deiafpodcastYoutube: @D.E.IAFPodcastABOUT DEI AFDEI AF is a podcast that fosters honest and unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by veteran DEI leader Amelia Ransom, the show challenges conventional thinking, platforms diverse perspectives, and equips listeners with practical tools to make a tangible difference in their organizations and communities. DEI AF is where curiosity meets candor — rooted in truth, driven by facts, enriched by experience. New episodes release bi-weekly on all major podcast platforms.