Over the past few months since launching Catalais Consulting Ltd., I’ve had the opportunity to meet with organizations across different industries, and the question I hear over and over again is: “How do we keep DEI a priority in today’s world?”

It’s a question that speaks to a much bigger issue—because the way we talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion today is becoming dangerous.
Somehow, the conversation has turned into a zero-sum game.
Them vs. us.
If you’re not like us, you’re against us.
If you’re not with us, you must be opposed to us.
And that’s dangerous.

The entire purpose of DEI was never to divide—it was to bridge gaps, open doors for those who have been historically excluded, and bring people together. But in so many spaces, we’ve lost the ability to collaborate, to listen, to find common ground.

We’ve taken DEI from something that should be embedded in everything we do and turned it into a siloed function—a separate initiative, a checkbox, a side project. And that’s why so many DEI efforts have been unsustainable and, too often, ineffective.

But here’s the thing—DEI was never about taking from one group to give to another. That’s not equity. That’s not progress.

It’s about recognizing that not everyone has had the same access to opportunity. Because as my friend Patrick Bartlett once said: “Some of us have been running the same marathon, but it’s not even the same course.”

We need a new approach—one rooted in leadership, partnership, and collaboration. Not division. Not resentment. Not an “us vs. them” mentality.
💡 So how do we get there?
💡 How do we shift from performative DEI to true systemic change?
💡 How do we rebuild the ecosystem of opportunity—together?

This is the conversation I want to have. Not about sides, but about solutions. I’ll be launching something new soon (more on that later 😉), but for now, I’d love to hear your thoughts:
✨ What’s one way we can integrate DEI rather than keep it as a separate function?
✨ How do we fix the broader system—without turning DEI into another battle line?
Drop your thoughts below. Let’s talk. Because this isn’t about us vs. them—it’s about all of us.

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