AT&T’s Shift from Diversity to Inclusivity: A Sign of the Times?

The War on DEI

With the “war on DEI” being waged against corporations who choose to invest, promote, and actively engage in diversity, eyes have turned toward AT&T to see what the multinational telecom’s next move may be.

AT&T’s Supplier Diversity Program

Over the past 50 years, AT&T has been a longstanding leader in supplier diversity, investing in Black-owned businesses, supporting women-owned businesses, and creating jobs for people from diverse backgrounds. While its program has been at the forefront of this conversation, AT&T recently made a subtle, yet powerful, change to the program.

The Name

Launched in 1968 as a response to the civil unrest and economic disparities many faced, AT&T was one of the first U.S. corporations to create a targeted program to ensure that minority-owned businesses were part of its corporate supply chain.

Results

The results have been staggering. In 1994, AT&T reached over $1 billion in spend with minority, woman, veteran, LGBTQ+, and disability-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), and since the program launched, the aggregate spend of AT&T and its suppliers with MWBEs is more than $173 billion.

The Language Around Diversity Is Evolving Quickly

This change prompts the question: Is the name Diversity now “bad” and the name Inclusivity “good”?

Meritocracy And Culture Fit

The counterpoint to all of this is that, in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need DEI because a free-market meritocracy would allow the most qualified to ultimately reach the top. Theoretically, this is always a possibility, but as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, this has yet to happen, and it seems unlikely.

The Move Toward Inclusion

While diversity was built around different perspectives and lived experiences, inclusion is about supporting those cultural differences in real time. Inclusion was meant to ensure that all voices were considered.

Conclusion

As Aristotle said, “a friend to everyone, is a friend to no one.” I just hope inclusion doesn’t end up creating environments where the safety in sameness is so strong, no one stands out at all.

FAQs

* What is AT&T’s Supplier Diversity Program?
+ AT&T’s Supplier Diversity Program is a program aimed at increasing diversity in its supply chain by investing in minority-owned businesses, supporting women-owned businesses, and creating jobs for people from diverse backgrounds.
* Why did AT&T change the name of its program from Diversity to Inclusivity?
+ The exact reason for the name change is unclear, but it may be a response to the changing landscape of DEI and the increasing emphasis on inclusion.
* What is the difference between diversity and inclusion?
+ Diversity is about building a more diverse workforce by considering different perspectives and lived experiences. Inclusion is about supporting those cultural differences in real time and ensuring that all voices are considered.