Beyond the Acronyms and Acrimony of DEI Today

Somewhere along the way, a movement became a minefield. Ideally rooted in clear principles and purpose, the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion has morphed into a haze of acronyms, assumptions, and acrimony—and many leaders are quietly backing away. But what if the problem isn’t necessarily the work itself, but is rooted in how we talk about it and connect it with real people’s real experiences?

In this week’s episode, host Anne Green sits down with Sheryl Battles—veteran communications executive and former VP of Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement at Pitney Bowes—for a conversation that cuts through the confusion. Drawing from decades of experience at the intersection of business strategy and human-centered leadership, Sheryl unpacks how today’s organizations can move beyond buzzy shortcuts and get back to the actual business of building diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Together, they explore how over-reliance on acronyms like DEI, ESG, and now AI can dilute meaning, sow confusion and create an environment for backlash, and why rooting these concepts in clarity, context, and business relevance is more critical than ever. And how organizations can reframe the conversation to focus on value, not just labels.

Join us as we discuss:

• How the absence of shared language and understanding erodes trust and momentum
• Why over-reliance on acronyms like DEI, ESG, and AI have outpaced understanding – and the risks of not communicating in ways all stakeholders can grasp or relate to
• What organizations get wrong about meritocracy and equity
• How clarity and context create real inclusion—not just compliance