Today, audiences are shaping the cultural agenda. Empowered to speak up for the causes they believe in, people are actively calling out brands they see as inauthentic. What are the main drivers of this behavioural shift? And how can brands win the trust of these outspoken advocates?

Three-quarters of employees globally lack belief in the sincerity of their organisation’s racial equity policies. This lack of confidence highlights the need for DE&I commitments to be backed by real action – failure to do so can impact employee engagement and company reputation.

LinkedIn has introduced ‘Diversity Nudges’ that alert recruiters when their candidates are not diverse enough and suggest ways to remedy this. With equality expected by consumers and employees, there’s an opportunity for brands to help challenge archaic inequitable business processes.

Despite the majority of jobseekers being more attracted to companies that make a commitment to diversity and inclusion, many employers are lagging behind. Hive Diversity, a diversity-focused virtual recruitment platform, connects graduates with firms that are prioritizing inclusion.

Amid a societal push for equality and inclusion in the US, consumers are calling on organizations to champion the voices of Black-owned brands and the people behind them. Black Connect is a non-profit that's mentoring, funding, and advising Black businesses to help them overcome economic biases.