The Real Cost of Doing DEI Alone
Why Shared Ownership Matters
Let’s say it plainly:
DEI isn’t failing because people don’t care. It’s failing because we keep asking people to do it alone.
If you’re leading DEI without a team, a budget, or decision-making power—you’re not the problem.
👉 The system is the problem.
What Happens When We Force DEI Into Solo Work
When organizations treat DEI like a side project instead of a business priority, the results are predictable:
- DEI leaders burn out
- ERG leaders are overextended without support
- Inclusion momentum stalls
These are the hidden costs of doing DEI alone:
- Burnout risk
- Loss of internal trust
- Talent retention problems
- Public reputational damage when DEI leaders exit
Why Doing DEI Alone Is a Strategic Failure
The DEI: Crisis, Evolution, or Transformation? report confirms this:
- Only 7% of organizations with low leadership support reach advanced DEI maturity.
- Burnout drives exit risk across the board.
👉 Download the full DEI report here.
When we under-resource this work, we don’t just lose people—we lose the progress we’ve made.
Three Ways to Build Shared Ownership and Real Support
1. Fund the Work Like It Matters
Symbolic budgets send a clear message: this isn’t a priority.
Real funding is essential.
2. Share the Weight Across Teams
One person can’t lead organization-wide culture change alone.
Every team must co-own pieces of the work.
3. Protect the People Driving the Work
Build sustainable timelines, decision-making power, and mental health support into your DEI infrastructure.
Why Protecting DEI Leaders Must Be a Priority
DEI isn’t just about programs and policies.
👉 It’s about protecting the people driving the work.
If you’re doing DEI alone, it’s time to push for shared ownership.
👉 Download the DEI Sustainability Planning Workbook here.
Start building your plan for personal sustainability today.
👉 Join the Diversiology Practitioner Community here to talk about how you’re building support systems into your DEI leadership.
💬 What’s your biggest challenge with doing DEI alone? Drop it in the comments or message me directly—you don’t have to figure this out alone.
