Adam is joined by Dr Mirna Lajtman, Associate Professor at the Luxembourg School of Business, and Zuza Reda-Jakima, founder and managing partner of pink not red, a boutique agency specialising in public relations, brand management and graphic design. Together, they discuss the DEI backlash and whether DEI policies are still needed.
After a strong tendency to agree with both of my guests on issues around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) when recording this week's episode of Office Hours, I got worried.
People drawn to Luxembourg are likely to have a strong internationalist outlook. They are also unlikely to be afraid of learning a few words in a different language. This attracts a certain type to the country.
Is the outcome the world's biggest liberal echo chamber?
On one hand this really worries me. Many companies are headquartered in Luxembourg. Without the perspectives of all their employees from around the world, how will companies know that they can count on the support of workers?
But on the other hand, this brings a great opportunity for the country.
With broad alignment, we should be able to make a tangible difference quickly. We seem aligned on the need to improve diversity at senior levels of organisations. We are also likely more aligned on other issues, such as ongoing support for Ukraine and the need to act on climate change.
With compromise and pragmatism from our politicians focusing on our collective broad agreement, we could show the way to other democracies around the world. This success could then inspire companies based here to follow a similar track, and after that their competition should follow.
But if we get bogged down and debate the details without action, events will overtake us and choices will be taken out of our hands.
Every day our politicians spend debating the same issue is a day less for action. In companies, every day debating whether to have diversity quotas for senior management is a day that the policy isn't being implemented.
2025 is a time for action.
Or maybe I'm totally wrong. Maybe I have created my own echo chamber within Luxembourg.
If you are reading this and think DEI policies need to be cancelled, and companies should not consider climate change in their strategies, let me know, I'd love to have you on the show.
