Remember 2020’s flood of DEI pledges? Today, budgets are shrinking, roles are vanishing, and critics are eulogizing corporate DEI. But here’s the twist: Companies like Starbucks and Salesforce aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving by refusing to treat DEI as a passing phase. When TechCorp slashed its DEI team, turnover skyrocketed. When Salesforce tied executive pay to diversity goals, leadership diversity jumped 32%. The divide is stark: Backtracking breeds distrust and lawsuits, while doubling down drives innovation and loyalty. DEI isn’t dying—it’s shedding the performative fluff. Ready to see why your next hire, product launch, or customer campaign hinges on getting this right? Let’s talk real stakes, real strategies, and why “checklist DEI” won’t cut it anymore.