The last few years have been something of a roller coaster for HR and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals, particularly in the United States. Momentum created by the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements faded as companies grew more concerned about the Great Resignation and, quickly thereafter, economic uncertainty, shrinking profits, and the need for workforce reductions. At the same time, political attacks scared some companies away from pursuing their DEI efforts. As chief people officer of VICE Media from the spring of 2020 to the summer of 2023, Daisy Auger-Domínguez was on the front lines of managing these changes. A seasoned HR executive who previously worked for Moody’s Investors Service and Google, she describes the challenges she faced — and the ones she sees ahead.
Jennifer White-Johnson
Overcoming Today’s DEI Leadership Challenges
An interview with former VICE Media chief people officer Daisy Auger-Domínguez.
September 14, 2023
· Long read
Summary.
Corporate interest in and action on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which had risen sharply following the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, has faded as economic uncertainty, shrinking profits, and political attacks have shifted leaders’ priorities. Daisy Auger-Domínguez, until recently the chief people officer at VICE Media, kept the company focused on DEI principles as it navigated these changes. Her success came in part from persistence and in part from how she and her team were able to embed DEI principles into many of the company’s core employee and management processes.
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