The ABCs of Chief Diversity Officers: Alignment, Burnout & Culture

The role of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executive is at a critical crossroads. In an ever-changing professional and political environment, these leaders face intense pressure as their mandates and goals — and even the terms used to discuss those things — are shifting.

In the past few years, significant strides have been made at many organizations in terms of building and executing meaningful strategies that advance DEI. Continued progress will require substantive, sustained investments that support the work of DEI executives in order to overcome organizational DEI challenges.

Find out what we learned from our research with Chief Diversity Officers and other DEI executives from across the U.S. In this report, we offer insights from senior leaders, grouping the most common DEI challenges into themes of where they told us they struggle most: getting organizational alignment, preventing personal burnout, and building committed cultures.

From their stories, experiences, and aspirations, we can learn how to overcome DEI challenges to create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces.