There is no room to discuss what DEI stands for: 

• DIVERSITY (the world is diverse), 
• EQUITY (the world is not equitable yet), 
• INCLUSION (the world is not inclusive, sadly the opposite). 

However, there is huge pressure from some individuals to remove the meaning of DEI. After a long week of working with other ERG members from my company, my news feed was full of anti-DEI news articles and posts. You can blame it on AI and technology or my curiosity to learn more during that week. But the point is, I jumped into the rabbit hole (instead of working my assignment for my university classes), probably because I was filled with ideas, thoughts, and energy after an amazing week on how to further the mission for DEI with my colleagues, and probably because I was tired of seeing injustices and doing nothing.

Yes, DEI is here to stay. And of course, when something is here to change the status quo, it is normal to be afraid and feel threatened. Some people choose to learn and educate themselves with the goal of helping everyone be part of the big party, while others choose to maintain their status quo no matter the cost. For those who are trying to rename and undermine DEI with names like “DIDN’T EARN IT,” let me agree with you on one aspect: DEI actions and meaning should change. DEI should be understood as 

• DO it
• EMBRACE it
• IMPROVE it

 Let me tell you why:

DO it: Any organization that defends and has diverse, equitable, and inclusive statements and policies should actively implement them. We do not need Shakespearean words on a statement; what we need is action, unapologetically embracing diverse and inclusive actions.

EMBRACE it: No matter how hard an organization believes in and defends DEI policies and statements if they may not be embracing them, DEI should be at the forefront and understood so it can be at the center of any decision made in the company. People should embrace a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and workforce.

IMPROVE it: We can’t move forward if we do not understand that the world is not perfect, policies are not perfect, and society is constantly evolving. Therefore, DEI policies should be constantly evolving and improving.

I feel so lucky that I am working for a company that stands for and believes in DEI. While I know there are a lot of things to improve, at least I feel that I belong. With that, I should not be silent when I see that other people are not experiencing the same as me out in the world. This is why I am here, educating myself and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to see where I can help, where I can make a difference, or at least where I can start a conversation and help build ‘an understanding bridge’ with the other side of the debate. 

Margaret Thatcher in 1987 said: ‘There’s no such thing as a society.’ There are thousands of things wrong, violent, and repugnant in that statement, and the most important aspect is the neoliberalism meaning behind it. If there is no society, that means it is solely up to you to achieve a successful career, and the only one to blame is yourself. However, those who defend this premise are often the ones who enjoy all the privileges necessary for success! This is why having a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce is needed more than ever, as we are inching closer to making Thatcher’s statement a reality.

Ramon Sorstokke