Over the past year, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts have faced severe backlash, especially in the United States, prompting many organizations to quietly abandon their initiatives. Some claim “mission accomplished.” The data says otherwise.

In Episode 5 of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, host Michael Green sits down with Elmira Bayrasli, former diplomat, author, professor, and CEO of Interruptrr, to challenge the notion that DEI was simply a fleeting trend. They explore why inclusion is one of the world’s weakest areas of progress and why abandoning it now poses a severe risk to business and society.

Key takeaways:

• Shocking real-world examples, including failures during 9/11 and October 7th, where the deliberate rejection of women’s perspectives led to catastrophic outcomes.
• Why Elmira thinks the US has made it uniquely difficult for women to rise to the presidency compared to other countries.
• How diverse teams are better at lowering risk and anticipating what could go wrong.
• Elmira shares data on women’s representation in media and policy.
• Elmira details why she started Interruptrr.

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The world got Ukraine wrong. Why was Ukraine underestimated and Russia overestimated for decades? It’s not just a military question, it's a social progress story.

In this episode of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, host Michael Green sits down with Orysia Lutsevych, Head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House, to reveal the surprising civic strength that has defined Ukraine's identity and fueled its resilience.

Before the invasion, data from the Global Social Progress Index showed Ukraine was performing well in translating economic growth into strong social outcomes. Lutsevych explains the historical and institutional secrets behind this success, and why the outcome of this war is foundational for shaping our entire global system.

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Let's explore Costa Rica's remarkable social progress and the factors contributing to its success. Our special guest, Jaime Garcia, discusses the historical context, the role of institutions, and the importance of education and health in driving social welfare. The conversation also addresses current challenges and the need for a more equitable distribution of social progress across the country.

The insights shared highlight the significance of political stability, sustainability, and the potential lessons other countries beyond Latin America can learn from Costa Rica's experience.

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In this episode, we challenge the foundational purpose of modern business, asking a provocative question: Is your hard-earned pension money funding the very companies that undermine your long-term health and the stability of the planet? Michael Green, CEO of the Social Progress Imperative, is joined by Catherine Howarth, CEO of ShareAction, to expose this ultimate investment paradox, where the shareholders, the true owners of the world’s largest companies, are often not taken into consideration in the business decisionmaking process.

We explore the "democratic gap" that prevents shareholders from enforcing accountability on issues like climate action and fair wages, discuss the collective failure of the financial community to shift capital away from polluting industries, and explore Catherine's confident prediction about the capitalist system for the coming decade.

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What are the successes and challenges of Philanthrocapitalism? We highlight the evolving role of wealthy individuals and businesses in addressing social and environmental issues, the impact of political changes on philanthropy, and the future of social progress in a rapidly changing world. The conversation focuses on the need for a shift away from GDP-centric thinking towards a more holistic approach to societal well-being.

What will happen to the United States with Trump’s new economic policies? Is America close to social breakdown? As the world deals with pressing challenges such as geopolitical risks and the climate crisis, could we still rely on philanthrocapitalists to make a change? Special guest: Matthew Bishop, distinguished journalist, author, and social entrepreneur.

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Learn the shifting perspectives on economic growth and the limitations of GDP as a measure of national success. Discover the origins of GDP, Gross Domestic Product, its role in guiding global economic development, and the reasons why it falls short in capturing true societal progress.

From the historical context of the Great Depression and Simon Kuznets to the modern challenges of sustainability and equity, Michael Green discusses why the global conversation is moving beyond GDP. Join us as we discuss the need for new metrics, like the Social Progress Index, that better reflect the values and well-being of our societies.

Find out more about how we collaborate with decision-makers and researchers to advance social progress across communities. Visit socialprogress.org

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Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

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