Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Businessweek Convenes: Black Leaders Face the DEI Backlash
Recommended counterprogramming to tonight's American version of the KCNA.
Mar 24, 2026
Bloomberg Businessweek hosts an exclusive roundtable with prominent Black business leaders to discuss DEI rollbacks in corporate America. Guests include Ursula Burns, Integrum Founding Partner, Lisa Wardell, American Express Board Director, Jacob Walthour, Jr., Blueprint Capital Advisors CEO, Nicole Reboe, Rich Talent Group CEO, and Chris Williams, Siebert Williams Shank & Co. Chairman.
Bloomberg Businessweek hosts an exclusive roundtable with prominent Black business leaders to discuss DEI rollbacks in corporate America. Guests include Ursula Burns, Integrum Founding Partner, Lisa Wardell, American Express Board Director, Jacob Walthour, Jr., Blueprint Capital Advisors CEO, Nicole Reboe, Rich Talent Group CEO, and Chris Williams, Siebert Williams Shank & Co. Chairman.
Wardell makes perhaps the best point on the panel at 5:49:
Everything is merit based, but merit is contingent on access and inclusivity. And what's happened is we're talking about the merit, which we all agree with merit too. And we're talking about it in a vacuum without access. If you don't have the access, you cannot get in the room to perform.
In other words, inclusivity is an asset, not cost, to merit!