313: Why DEI Pushback is a False Narrative with Nancy Levine Stearns

Nancy Levine Stearns, founder of ImpactDevise, a nonprofit journalism project, discusses the corporate response to the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) backlash. Stearns' project covers DEI initiatives in the private sector, and her reporting on corporate social responsibility has been cited by publications like The New York Times, NBC News, and Forbes.

Stearns, a former executive recruiter, began focusing on the DEI space after the "heated" backlash following a recent election. She was initially intrigued by a story about Costco taking a public stance on DEI. This led her to discover that other companies were also standing firm on their commitments.

Key Findings from Impactivize

• Corporate Commitment: Stearns and Impactivise track approximately 400 companies, including publicly traded, private, and large nonprofit organizations, that have made public commitments to DEI. A recent audit found that only two of these companies have completely removed their DEI statements. Stearns believes that a stated commitment is a bold and courageous decision, as it can make a company a target for anti-DEI groups.

• Shareholder Support: Stearns reports that in 2025, 30 anti-DEI proposals were put forth for shareholder voting at various corporations. Shareholders overwhelmingly rejected these proposals, typically by a margin of 98% to 99% of voting shares. Stearns notes that while shareholder rejection of outside proposals is common, the overwhelming margin of these votes is unusual.

• The Business Imperative: Stearns states that the primary reason companies are maintaining their DEI initiatives is because they recognize it as a "strategic imperative" and a "business imperative". She cites a statement from Rob Davis, the CEO of Merck, who called diversity and inclusion a strategic imperative. Stearns emphasizes that the data and metrics show that these initiatives positively impact a company's performance and bottom line.

• Shifting Language: Stearns acknowledges that some companies are changing the language they use to describe their initiatives, perhaps using terms like "belonging and inclusion" or "culture and engagement". However, she notes that adversarial groups, such as the Heritage Foundation, are aware of this change in terminology and still view these efforts as DEI.

• Consumer Influence: Stearns believes that consumers, particularly younger generations, are a powerful force in this movement. She suggests that consumers are "voting with their wallet" and supporting companies that have strong DEI commitments. This consumer support provides a "strength in numbers" for corporations, reinforcing their commitment.

Stearns argues that while the media often focuses on the narrative that DEI is "dead," the data show that it is very much alive and supported by both corporations and consumers. She maintains that the business case for diversity and inclusion is a powerful and objective force, stating, "It's not political, it's not ideological, it's not personal, it's just, it's just business".

Follow Nancy's research and reporting at: https://www.impactivize.org/