Ep 188 - The Critical Evolution of DEI in the 2025 Trump Era, with guest Bianca Hartge-Hazelman

Her Ambitious Career

DEI was shaken in early 2025 by both a change in US federal leadership and policy, potentially challenging the future of diversity, equity and inclusion in business as we knew it. My guest and I today are discussing how DEI may be evolving, but is here to stay.

My guest today is Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, CEO of Financy and The Women's Index, the only quarterly index released here in Australia that assesses the progress organisations are making to support women's advancement across key measures including Board representation, leadership representation, the pay gap, superannuation, employment and underemployment.

We are discussing the changing face of DEI and how it needs to adapt in order to come out stronger than ever before. We are talking about:

• 02:00 The changes to DEI in 2025
• 07:45 Financy's The Women's Index: the purpose and need
• 12:15 Communicating your strategy focusing on the benefit to individuals
• 14:45 Case study
• 18:30 The importance of measuring The Perception Gap
• 21:20 The future of DEI

Something Bianca said today:

"DEI has always been about creating equitable workplaces and opportunity for diverse minority groups. If organisations are to push forward, given what has happened, it will be towards a greater focus on culture and inclusion to make sure this great (DEI) work continues." (Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, guest - Her Ambitious Career Podcast)
Links:

• Download Financy's latest quarterly DEI data report
• Visit the Financy website
• Learn about Rebecca Allen and the Illuminate mission to empower more women leaders
• Read from the Illuminate blog: DEI Is Alive and Well: 3 Steps to Combat Any Feelings of Disillusionment (24 Jan 2025)
• WGEA website (Workplace Gender Equality Agency)

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About Bianca:

Bianca Hartge-Hazelman is the Founder and CEO of Financy and architect of the nationally-recognized Financy Women's Index and the IMPACTER™ platform, providing data-led insights to help inform organisation's on their DEI policy and communications plans.

Bianca is an award-winning communications professional and social impact advocate. With over two decades of experience as a media strategist and former journalist for outlets including the Australian Financial Review, Bianca is a leader at the intersection of technology, purpose, and communication.

Bianca is also the Head of Culture Communications at Brand Agency We Are Why. In this role she architects comprehensive communications strategies, manages social impact narratives, and provides expert media training to empower leaders and mitigate reputational risk.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Allen is a Career & Leadership Coach for corporate women, aspiring to senior levels of leadership. Over the last decade, Rebecca has helped women realise their potential at companies including Woolworths, ANZ, J.P. Morgan, PwC, Coca-Cola Amatil, Ministry of Defence, Frontier Sensing and Abbvie Medical Research through her Roadmap to Senior Leadership 1:1 coaching program. Connect with Rebecca