Conscious Change Skill #32: Gain Support, One Person or One Group at a Time.
Despite recent setbacks and negative media coverage, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are far from obsolete. In fact, there's compelling evidence that DEI efforts are evolving and persisting in many organizations.
I came across a website that genuinely moved me: It’s named Impactivize.
Through all the ups and downs of the last few months, I have hung onto Margaret Mead's insightful observation about the power of small groups to effect change: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
How can we mobilize and come together when we are so diverse and, frankly, demoralized? Nearly 15 years ago, Jean Ramsey and I described in our first book, Reframing Change, how despite all odds, change can be generated one person or one group at a time. We repeated that message in our second book, Conscious Change.
People who wait for the big thing to happen so they can finally do something may miss their ability to take some small action where they are.
As the saying goes, “Bloom where you are planted.”
Despite my demoralization, and hearing over and over again about others’ demoralization, I clung to the idea that all over the country, if not the world, small bands of committed people were banding together to do what they could in their sphere of influence.
I looked for signs that out of those small actions, tucked away in different corners of the world and beyond my awareness, would be the genesis of a broader way to form coalitions.
And now, here is a small band of people, spearheaded by journalist Nancy Levine Stearns, who have found a way to make this a possibility, just by pulling together names of companies.
Here’s how they explain their purpose:
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Impactivize’s mission is to highlight corporations that are committing to DEI practices (diversity, equity and inclusion)… In the face of overwhelming pressure from our federal government, the list of companies doubling down on DEI practices (even if re-branded or re-tooled) is growing daily. The mission of the project is to support those companies and their hiring DEI leadership positions. |
What you will find on their website:
1. DEI Employer of the Day – A list of corporations who have continued their commitments to DEI. They are careful to note that making to the list does not imply endorsement of the company. Rather, it’s just a growing list of companies who have taken a position in favor of DEI by whatever name.
They explain, “Whether called diversity, equity and inclusion, or belonging and equality, employers agree: DEI is good for people, good for business.”
As of this writing, 97 companies are on the list, including the maverick COSTCO, who gained a lot of press for being among the first to proclaim they were keeping their program.
2. DEI Job of the Day – A list of job openings in the field, curated by experts from the executive search field. “Current positions posted by companies including Costco, Morgan Stanley, Johnson & Johnson, Adobe, and many others. Corporations will pay a nominal fee for DEI Job of the Day™ recruitment advertising.”
3. DEI action of the day – This is for us—what we can do in support. Today’s list had four items, including “Join Costco.”
4. Commentary – A reference list of online statements and articles by companies explaining their positions on the benefits of diversity, belonging, and inclusion.
The website explains the backstory of how Impactivize came to be. Today's media highlights those who are retreating from DEI, giving the impression the retreat is widespread. Yet…:
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Despite the attacks, a recent study by Resume.org showed that about 87 percent of companies are maintaining or augmenting their DEI strategies in 2025. The organization characterized its findings as “1 in 8 companies are scaling back DEI,” rather than 7 in 8 are maintaining or augmenting their DEI initiatives |
Take a moment with me to speculate what might have happened. Imagine Nancy Stearns reading that study by Resume and thinking, “That’s not right. The media is hyping 1 in 8 are leaving DEI vs. 7 out of 8 are staying with DEI despite the backlash. Someone should do something about that.”
And then she chose to be the someone, and set out to gain support.
Impactivize’s purpose is to serve as a central source of information about companies that hold fast to their principles. The immediate target is to “highlight pro-DEI companies and their recruiting efforts and open job listings.”
Next steps are to gain fiscal sponsors and assemble “diverse, world-class advisory board.” I’m duly impressed that they understand that good intentions and a good heart are not sufficient. So many good ideas fail because people fail to consider how to sustain the effort.
Key Takeaway (to my utter delight): Gain support, one person or one group at a time
Are you part of a small, dedicated group working to preserve or evolve DEI in your organization?
If so, we’d love to hear what your group is doing!
We’d be thrilled to highlight your successes in future newsletters, and we’d also love to know that you're out there—it's always uplifting to know about people making a difference.
