Leading Through the Breach
What companies are still committed to DEI
These past ten days have been an all-out assault on my nervous system. I know I’m not alone. Also, this is the point of an authoritative government. What are they calling it Shock and Awe? Like terrorizing your own country is an insightful military tactic.
Fuck.
That’s what I have right now. Four-lettered words.
When we’re leading teams, this kind of terror is even more difficult. We must remain steady. We still have businesses to run and people to inspire—yes, even in times of anguish.
We absorb what we can to protect our teams. We field the tough questions and sometimes make choices that seem impossible because we must. We have to move forward. It’s the only way.
During times of civil unrest, I dressed to go to work in jeans, boots, a hoodie, and a knife in my pocket. I was ready to run. I was ready to protect my team and keep them out of danger. We designated a meetup spot. Luckily, we never had to use it.
A citywide power outage one year had me closing my store in the dark. I eased the fear among my team members and made sure everyone got home safely. I sat in my house, listening to the small movements of the people in nearby apartments.
You don’t realize all the noise electric power makes until it’s gone.
September 11th, wildfires, the recession of 2008 - I’ve been through it all. I cried. I got angry. I doom-scrolled. I took breaks. I hugged the people I cared about. I let myself process the enormity and the gravity of unbelievable events in small bites. It’s the only way to get through it.
Learn. Act. Educate. Help. Breathe. Rest. Repeat.
Don’t give up.
We are still the majority. Keep that in your sights. Your everyday actions can have immense ramifications. It matters where you spend your money. We’re going to keep talking about it.
According to Time, here’s a list of companies rolling back their investments in diversity, equity, and inclusion:
Amazon
Brown Forman - Parent company of Jack Daniel's
Ford
Harley Davidson
John Deere
Lowe’s
McDonald’s
Meta
Target
Tractor Supply
Walmart
Companies keeping commitment to DEI:
Apple
Chase & Co
Cisco
Costco
Delta
Goldman Sachs
Pinterest
Salesforce
Remember: small, targeted actions.
Learn. Act. Educate. Help. Breathe. Rest. Repeat.
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When I was a kid, I went to the grocery store with my mom—like most of us. We were walking through the produce section. The neatly organized tables of fruits and vegetables were at my eye level. I could just see all the tidy rows.
“Mom! Grapes!” I said.
“We’re not buying grapes right now.” She flatly stated as she plowed through the aisle. (My mom is not a fan of grocery shopping).
“Why?” I asked.
“We’re boycotting them.”
“Why?”
Even at five or six years old, I knew what that word meant - kind of. I knew it meant we’re not buying something because of a bigger cause.
“Because of the rights of the workers.” She said.
"Oh," I said.
That was enough of an explanation for me. I moved along, following my mom through the rest of the store.
At a very basic level, we can all understand why labor is important.
When we’re raised to value humans and human effort, we see how simple it is to make an impact. Don’t stop. Teach those around you - even if they’re young - they will understand.
Giving up is off the table.
Giving up is being boycotted.
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Kit Campoy is an accomplished retail expert and author who helps SaaS Retail Tech companies thrive. She leverages her two decades of leadership experience to craft insightful content and provide strategic guidance that drives results.
Thanks for bringing these hard times into focus and giving us somethings to hold on to. The people in retail can get through this and make a difference.