DE&I Exodus: Former Leaders Launch Consultancies Amid Industry Shifts
When God-is Rivera departed from her role as global director of culture and community at Twitter (now X) in 2022, she had hopes for the future. She had spent four years building relationships between underrepresented creators on Twitter and the media and advertising industries. However, Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter changed everything, leading to layoffs, dissolution of employee resource groups, and an increase in hate speech on the platform.
Rivera, along with other former DE&I executives, has since left the corporate world to launch their own consultancies. They cite bureaucratic red tape, burnout, and a lack of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the industry as reasons for their departure. Despite initial promises following the Black Lives Matter movement, the focus on DE&I has waned, with many companies shifting their priorities away from these initiatives.
The challenges faced by former DE&I leaders highlight the industry’s struggle to prioritize inclusivity and accountability. Efforts to track diversity progress through data sets and self-reported statistics have fallen short, leading to a performance-based approach to DE&I. The lack of long-term planning and clear pathways for DE&I practitioners has resulted in emotional labor, frustration, and burnout.
As former DE&I executives transition to consultancy roles, they believe they can continue their work without the constraints of corporate structures. Despite the obstacles they have faced, they remain committed to driving real change in the industry and promoting inclusivity for all.
Biography:
God-is Rivera is a former global director of culture and community at Twitter (now X). She spent four years building relationships between underrepresented creators on Twitter and the media and advertising industries before leaving to launch her own consultancy. Rivera remains dedicated to supporting suppressed communities and bridging the gap between marginalized groups and the ad industry.