Executive Round Up: Has There Been Significant Progress in DEI in the Past Year?
We asked the Cablefax Diversity List if they think there has been significant progress on DEI in the industry in the past year. Here’s what they had to say.
Lisa Gonzalez Anselmo
EVP, Communications and Chief Diversity Officer
Altice USA
Although there is always more work to do, every day I see more awareness of DEI in the workplace, more opportunities for people to participate and belong, greater diversity of thought, and more representation, all of which is helping us create better experiences for our employees and our customers.
Stephen Espinoza
President, Sports and Event Programming
Showtime Networks
No; if anything, there has been regression. The corporate DEI pledges relating to content and employee hiring and promotion have largely been hollow, with little substantive progress. The 2023 UCLA Diversity Report, among other surveys and analyses, reflects a stunning lack of progress throughout the industry. And a recent wave of layoffs of very senior DEI executives threatens to completely derail any positive momentum that may have existed in individual organizations.
Chima Ogbuokiri
SVP, Growth & Partner Marketing Strategy
AMC Networks
We can look at the last five years and see marked progress in DEI in the industry. There are more diverse faces in front of and behind the camera, with strong programs to further build up the pipeline with leaders that are not homogeneous. Add to that a generation of young leaders that expect to see that diversity. Unfortunately, the last year has backtracked in several ways, particularly in the areas of inclusion, with backlash against the progress made over the last few years. In the last year, we see diverse leaders leaving key posts and the elimination of DEI-specific roles as early cost-saving measures. I am optimistic that this regression is temporary and only tightening the spring to project DEI forward in the not too distant future.
