Are DEI efforts in business losing ground? In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Zoe Kinias, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and the John F. Wood Chair for Innovation in Business Education, to explore the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations.

As some companies scale back on DEI initiatives, Zoe unpacks the pressing question: Can inclusion be more than a checkbox and instead serve as a catalyst for innovation and long-term success? Drawing from her research, she delves into the impact of stereotype threat on women’s career progression, the role of social support in fostering inclusive workplaces, and the key strategies leaders can adopt to create environments where everyone can thrive.

The conversation also tackles the broader cultural and political shifts influencing DEI in business, including whether terms like “DEI” and “woke” have become misunderstood or weaponized. With insights from groundbreaking studies and real-world examples, this episode offers a compelling look at the future of workplace inclusion and what leaders can do to drive meaningful change.

1:25: How conscious and unconscious stereotypes shape women's career paths
 10:05: The power of social support on the DEI landscape
 13:20: Why “innovation” is more than just a word at Ivey’s John F. Wood Centre 
 15:56: Are organizations scared of being too woke?