Throughout her keynote, Wanga's overarching call to action for DEI practitioners and leaders was to get clear on the true purpose of DEI—its human impact.

During a time of anti-DEI cultural and legal shifts, as well as economic uncertainty, the case-making for DEI is more crucial now than ever. Research shows that justifying DEI by emphasizing how it creates a fairer workplace is more preferred by employees." Before you go criticizing DEI and being worried about the fact that money's going away, be more worried that people are taking their lives because they can't come to work as they are—which matters more."

Is DEI authentic? Caroline Wanga says we need a reframe.