The CEO’s voice was quiet on the phone, “Our board panicked. They voted to eliminate our DEI roles this week. But we can’t afford to lose our best talent. What do we do now?”
I paused. Then I asked the question that changes everything: “Are you calling because you’re scared of the political backlash or because you actually believe this work matters?”
The silence stretched. Then: “Both. But mostly the second one.”
That’s when I knew we could do business.
To the Organizations Still Standing
While others retreat, you’re asking the real questions: How do we keep moving forward when the political climate is hostile? How do we protect our people and our progress?
You’re not looking for permission to care about equity. You already know it’s the right thing to do. You need strategies that work when the pressure is on.
Black women have those strategies. We’ve been perfecting them our whole careers.
What Staying Power Really Looks Like
Organizations with backbone tell me, “We’re committed to this work, but we need it to be bulletproof.”
Here’s what I tell them: Black women have been building bulletproof strategies since we entered the workforce. We know how to create sustainable change that survives political shifts and economic pressures.
Let me show you what this looks like:
Community-Centered Leadership in Crisis: When external attacks come, organizations with strong internal communities survive. Black women build networks that protect and amplify each other. Companies using our community frameworks don’t just weather storms; they come out stronger.
Strategic Resilience Over Reactive Responses: While others panic about political changes, Black women lead with long-term vision. We’ve learned to build systems that work regardless of who’s in power. Organizations that adopt this approach make progress that sticks.
Authentic Communication During Backlash: When the noise gets loud, authenticity cuts through. Black women have mastered speaking truth with strategy. Companies that embrace this approach build trust with the communities that matter most, their employees, and the customers who share their values.
For Black Women and Our Allies Reading This
You see what’s happening. The rollbacks. The attacks. The organizations suddenly going quiet about values they claimed to hold.
But you also see the organizations still standing. Still investing. Still believing that equity isn’t optional.
These are your people. These are the companies worth your talent, your dollars, your loyalty.
Why This Moment Demands Revolutionary Leadership
Anti-DEI sentiment isn’t new. It’s a predictable response to progress. Black women have been navigating this backlash throughout our entire careers.
What’s different now is that some organizations are finally understanding what we’ve always known: Real equity work doesn’t depend on political winds. It depends on doing what’s right, consistently, regardless of external pressure.
The organizations still committed to this work aren’t just surviving current attacks. They’re positioning themselves as leaders for the customers, employees, and communities who value authenticity over performative allyship.
The Strategies That Actually Work
Through my research and 20 years of transforming organizations, I’ve documented what Black women leaders always knew: sustainable change comes from the inside out.
My forthcoming book and the frameworks I’ve developed (RISE, RAISE, Ambition Reclaimed) aren’t just about supporting Black women leaders. They’re about building organizational cultures that can withstand external pressure because they’re grounded in authentic values and strategic thinking.
The Question That Separates Committed Organizations from the Rest
Don’t ask: “How do we do diversity safely?”
Ask: “How do we build equity strategies so strong that political pressure can’t shake them?”
Black women have been answering that question for decades. We know how to create change that lasts because we’ve had to.
For Organizations Ready to Go Deeper
If you’re committed to equity despite the political climate, you need strategies that work when the pressure is on. Surface-level programs won’t cut it anymore.
Ready to build bulletproof equity strategies? Book a 30-minute strategy session where we’ll identify what makes your organization resilient to political attacks while accelerating progress. This isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about playing it smart.
Book Your Organizational Strategy Session
For Black Women Ready to Transform From Within
You’re already in these organizations. You see the gaps, the missed opportunities, the places where your brilliance could shift entire systems. You don’t need permission to lead—you need strategies that work in environments not designed for your success.
Ready to implement these documented strategies in your workplace? Join a 30-minute power session where we’ll identify the specific approaches that help you thrive while transforming the systems around you. Because we need your brilliance everywhere, changing everything.
Book Your Leadership Power Session
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To the organizations still standing, the Black women leading change, and the allies walking alongside us: this work continues. What questions are you asking? What support do you need? Real transformation happens in community, so let’s continue to build communities that support Black women.