The Diversity Movement

In a time when many companies are reevaluating their DEI approach, Costco is standing firm. Their leadership sees diversity and inclusion not just as values, but as a business advantage—fueling innovation, customer satisfaction, and long-term success. Our CEO, Donald Thompson, CDE? , explores this in his WRAL | WRAL TechWire article, breaking down how Costco’s approach serves as a blueprint for leaders navigating today’s evolving business landscape. What can leaders take away from Costco’s commitment? Prioritizing inclusive workplaces is a strategy for resilience, innovation, and growth. Read the full article for key insights – link below. #InclusiveLeadership #DiversityDrivesSuccess #WorkplaceInclusion #BelongingAtWork

Psychological safety, trust, belonging, and wellbeing are essential for retaining top talent and building high-performing teams. One key finding from our 2025 Employee Engagement Trends & Predictions report is that despite the DEI pushback we're seeing in the media, market-leading organizations continue to commit to strategies that foster real engagement and well-being. Leaders who prioritize these people-first strategies are seeing measurable results in retention, collaboration, and performance. In fact, we’ve seen our clients’ belonging and engagement scores go up thanks to their DEI initiatives. Since implementing education and programming, TDM client Builders Mutual has seen both belonging and psychological safety scores increase. “We’ve seen our belonging data go up,” says Kimberly Velazquez, Talent Acquisition & Engagement Manager. “Our belonging scores have risen from the 70s to 80-81%, and a lot of that has to do with the initiatives we’ve implemented with TDM.” Ready to take a deeper dive? Stay informed on the trends & predictions shaping the future of work. Read the full report now – link below. #PsychologicalSafety #WorkplaceWellbeing #InclusiveWorkplace #LeadershipMatters

As teams become more global, inclusive communication is more essential than ever. Language barriers, cultural differences, and accent bias can create unintentional hurdles that disrupt collaboration, hinder productivity, and even lead to costly mistakes. We’ve partnered with Judy Ravin and Accents International LLC in our latest white paper to provide leaders with practical, actionable strategies that help break down these barriers, improve clarity, and build more inclusive, effective teams. These strategies ensure that every team member feels heard, understood, and valued, which fosters a more connected and collaborative environment. Download the full white paper to explore how these strategies can unlock better teamwork and drive business success across healthcare, information technology (IT), and call centers – link below. #InclusiveCommunication #GlobalWorkforce #CrossCulturalTeams #HealthcareTeams #ITLeadership #CallCenterSuccess

Microaggressions may seem small, but their impact is significant. Over time, they can create workplaces where women feel undervalued and unheard. This Women’s History Month, we’re providing guidance on how to recognize and disrupt bias in everyday interactions—because fostering an inclusive culture shouldn’t stop when the month ends. In our latest video, Shelley Willingham, CDE? breaks down four common microaggressions women face at work and shares practical ways to challenge them. For more tips and strategies on how to support and celebrate women in the workplace this month and beyond, explore our Women’s History Month Programming Guide -- link below. What are some other microaggressions you’ve experienced as a woman at work? Share below ?? #WomenAtWork #BreakTheBias #InclusiveCommunication #InclusiveWorkplaces

When employees struggle to communicate clearly due to language barriers, accent bias, or cultural disconnects, they disengage. This leads to lost collaboration, lower employee morale, and missed business opportunities. TDM partner Judy Ravin, professional linguist and President of Accents International LLC explores: ?? How accent bias can lead to missed ideas and undervalued expertise in the workplace ?? Why inclusive listening is a key component to keeping employees engaged and driving better solutions ?? Communication strategies to empower teams to collaborate with clarity and confidence Watch the full video in our Inclusive Communication playlist to learn how it can transform your workplace – link below. #InclusiveCommunication #AccentBias #CulturalAwareness #EmployeeEngagement #CollaborationMatters

Time is one of the most valuable resources in the workplace—so how are you managing it? In her latest article for Reworked, Jackie Ferguson explores how managers setting clear priorities, aligning expectations, and establishing realistic timelines helps their teams focus on high-impact work, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy workplace culture. ??39% of employees cite workload anxiety as their top stressor. ?? Strong time management fosters psychological safety and drives innovation. ?? This article shares real-world strategies to help leaders assess and manage time effectively. Read the full article to learn how time management can transform your team’s performance – link below. #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips #WorkplaceWellbeing

Today’s business landscape is more complex than ever. Legislative shifts, escalating political pressures, and heightened scrutiny around DEI initiatives have created uncertainty for leaders. Without a thoughtful, well-calibrated approach, short-term decisions in response to these pressures put organizations at risk for long-term reputational harm, decreased employee engagement, and weakened stakeholder trust. Ignoring these challenges isn’t an option but navigating them alone can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created the Risk, Reputation, and Resilience Executive Workshop—a confidential session designed for leaders to get strategic guidance on managing risk while maintaining an inclusive, engaged workforce. Led by CEO Donald Thompson, CDE? and members of our executive team, this 60–90-minute workshop helps leaders: ? Assess risk tolerance as a leadership team and unite for a collective approach. ? Identify risk mitigation strategies that uphold both legal compliance and employee engagement. ? Create a psychologically safe space to voice concerns, ask tough questions, and refine their DEI strategy. ? Develop a forward-thinking action plan with immediate steps and a long-term vision. Learn how your organization can stay resilient – link below. #RiskManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #DEI #InclusiveWorkplace

Communication is at the heart of collaboration, but language differences, cultural disconnects, and industry jargon can create unintentional barriers. Practical strategies such as implementing pronunciation training, building cultural awareness, and establishing clear language guidelines help teams connect, reduce misunderstandings, and improve productivity. We partnered with Judy Ravin and Accents International LLC to create a white paper exploring how inclusive communication can strengthen teams, improve engagement, and drive better business outcomes. ?? This resource provides leaders with actionable steps to reduce miscommunication, address accent bias, and improve workplace connections. Download now – link below. #InclusiveCommunication #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeExperience

Great leaders don’t just manage work—they listen, understand, and empower their teams. Leading with empathy isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a business imperative. When employees feel heard and valued, engagement rises, innovation thrives, and organizations achieve stronger results. In our latest article, Amber Keister, CDE? explores how empathetic leadership fuels success—with practical, real-world examples of how leaders can foster resilience, navigate uncertainty, and drive performance through deeper connection. If you’re looking for actionable ways to lead with impact, this is your guide. Read the full article – link below. #LeadWithEmpathy #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipMatters

Lily Zheng, best-selling author and DEI strategist, recently joined Jackie Ferguson on the Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox Podcast for a candid conversation on the evolution of DEI—and why its practitioners must be its strongest critics. ?? In this episode, they explore: ?? Why “feel-good” DEI strategies fall short—and what makes an impact ?? How leaders can shift from performative actions to real accountability ?? The FAIR Framework—a bold, practical approach to workplace equity Lily offers clear, evidence-based strategies to help leaders move beyond surface-level commitments and build workplaces where DEI isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a driving force for positive, lasting change. Listen now – link below. #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceInclusion #DEI #LilyZheng