Episode 10 – Show Me The Money: The Surprisingly Selfish Case for DEI

In This Episode:

We’re getting brutally honest about why DEI matters beyond just “being nice.” Forget the feel-good fluff – this episode is all about cold, hard benefits that impact YOUR wallet, YOUR career, and YOUR daily work life. We break down the financial data that proves diverse companies outperform their peers, explore how inclusion saves billions in turnover costs, and reveal why understanding DEI is now a career advantage. Plus, we dive into the massive economic impact of disability and LGBTQ+ inclusion that reaches into the trillions. Whether you’re motivated by money, career growth, or just wanting your workday to be less stressful, this episode gives you every selfish reason to care about DEI.

What We Covered:

• The ethical foundation: Why treating people fairly benefits everyone
• Business case deep dive: Hard financial data on diversity’s impact on profits
• Career advancement: How DEI knowledge becomes a professional advantage
• Innovation benefits: Why diverse teams solve problems better
• Economic impact: Society-wide benefits reaching trillions of dollars
• Practical workplace improvements: Less drama, better talent, easier workdays

Key Takeaways:

• Companies with gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profits
• Businesses actively hiring people with disabilities see 28% higher revenue and twice the net income
• LGBTQ+ inclusive companies save $9 billion annually in reduced turnover costs
• Diverse teams consistently produce more creative solutions and catch blind spots
• Career advancement increasingly requires skills in working with diverse teams
• DEI is about effectiveness and survival, not charity or “feel-good” initiatives

Financial Benefits Highlighted:

• Gender diversity: 25% increase in likelihood of above-average profits
• Disability inclusion: 28% higher revenue, double the net income compared to peers
• LGBTQ+ inclusion: $9 billion in annual US turnover savings
• Economic potential: $12 trillion could be added to global GDP by closing gender gaps
• Disability workforce growth: $25 billion GDP increase from just 1% more disabled workers
• LGBTQ+ discrimination costs: Up to 1% of GDP lost annually due to exclusion