Do you need to be an activist to be an effective DEI professional?

Do you need to be an activist to be an effective DEI professional? 🤔

A question that I love to ponder over with fellow DEI practioniers.

In my belief – yes. 

And this belief is based on understanding activism as power and policy change (Kendi).

👉 When we as DEI practitioners audit DEI related policies and make sure they are equal – that’s activism, as we are trying to change power dynamics and enable full access for all employees.

👉 When we redesign hiring, promotion and evaluation processes to make them less biased – that’s activism, as we are trying to equalize these processes for everyone.

👉 When we introduce inclusive communication guidelines – that’s activism, as we’re trying to increase representation and the feeling of belonging across the organization.

To me, doing the DEI work is more about being a crafts(wo)man than a dreamer, to paraphrase words of Joanna Chmura (she/her) from her book “To nawet lepiej”. 

Ambitious dreams and clear goals are achieved by consequently introducing change, step by step.

Education leads to changing minds; activism leads to changing policies*.

For effective DEI work, we need both. This picture marks 1.5 years of striving to do this best I can, under my own brand, Punt Kick | Shaping DEI Competency.

 ❓ What are your thoughts on activism? Do you consider yourself one?

*My takeaway from the keynote of Aminkeng A Alemanji (PhD) at SIETAR Europa in Lille | May 2024