The Evolution of DEI: A Shift Toward Personal Culture

Gail Davis, 20 February 2025

Over the last 26 years, I have seen speaker topics come and go. Trends rise, capture the public’s attention, and eventually evolve into something new. I remember when sustainability was the hot topic, and later, AI started making its way into conversations. Now, the latest shift we’re seeing is in DEI. But instead of fading away, it appears to be transforming into something more nuanced and lasting.

At GDA Speakers, we’ve had the privilege of working with Risha Grant, a sought-after speaker in this space. One of our long-term clients—who has booked 50 speakers over the last 25 years—had this to say after booking Risha:

“She is an exceptional speaker with a timely, relevant message. Risha could talk frankly about unconscious bias without making people feel attacked. Because of her approach, listeners were more able to be introspective. The audience of 900+ loved the presentation.”

Recently, Risha shared a blog post that caught my attention, titled “I’m Quitting DEI.” The title alone was enough to make me pause, but what she wrote resonated deeply. Here are a few excerpts:

“But in the chaos, I reconnected with myself and my faith. I remembered that DEI has always been a hard sell. Since I started this business, there hasn’t been a day that was easy until the second quarter of 2020 when DEI exploded in popularity. While I was still successful before that, I wasn’t truly happy. And through all of this, I realized that DEI needs a major shift. Back then, my tagline was, ‘I don’t solve diversity problems. I solve people problems.’ This period of turmoil has caused me to realign and follow the path I was always meant to take.”

She goes on to explain:

“So, let me reintroduce myself… (and tell you where DEI is headed.)

I’m the People’s Champ. Yes, it’s corny, but when someone on my team jokingly said it, it stuck with me. I love people, and I want to see everyone win. Labels like DEI come and go—just like the Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and Feminist movements. But at the core, it’s never been about the label; it’s about the people. It’s about how we show up for ourselves and each other.

DEI is not dead. It’s evolving.

I believe that DEI is transforming into what it should have been anyway. It’s evolving to embody something more personal, impactful, and sustainable. I call it Personal Culture—an evolution that focuses on individual growth, self-awareness, and people-centered leadership.”

This perspective is timely. Earlier this month, we had our first client event cancellation due to executive orders restricting DEI-related programs. Will this become a trend? Will the topic disappear entirely? Or is this simply a PR rebranding opportunity?

We want to hear from you. How is your organization responding to these changes?

My perspective aligns with Risha’s: DEI as a term may shift, but the essence of the work will continue. Organizations committed to building inclusive cultures won’t abandon the mission just because the label changes. The future of DEI isn’t about checking a box—it’s about embedding inclusivity into the very fabric of workplace culture.

For event planners, this is an important shift to watch. It’s not about whether diversity-focused topics will remain relevant—it’s about how they will be framed moving forward. Speakers like Risha Grant are helping organizations navigate this transition with fresh perspectives and actionable insights.

As always, the conversation continues, and we’re here to help you find the right voices to lead it.

-Gail Davis

Founder & President, GDA Speakers