As a human who happens to be a woman leader, DEI has always felt important to me. Over the last 8+ years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead a woman-founded and —led nonprofit as CEO and now a woman-owned and -led marketing agency as COO. My deepest knowing is that diversity of gender, lived experience, thought, perspective, physical and neuro-ability, etc., make business and creative better. There are heaps of data that support this as well. So why does it feel so damn hard?
The Spring of 2024 saw 13 states pass various versions of anti-DEI legislation (see map here).
From reproductive health to “tradwives,” we’re hearing rhetoric impacting women’s rights in every State House in the Union. All of these factors create an environment that makes it tough on any woman-owned or other diversity-owned business because—simply put—it’s tough to be a leader who doesn’t fit into the space that cis-gendered, white males have always occupied.
Consider that Idaho, where Stoltz is headquartered, has made it illegal to seek reproductive care that requires abortion as a medically necessary procedure. The State has eliminated funding for DEI initiatives on education campuses. Idaho Republicans passed a “Traditional Family Values Month” bill that doesn’t recognize single, adoptive, or same-gender parents. The list goes on as it relates to LGBTQIA+ rights, book bans, etc. Taken individually, any one of these policies would feel challenging. All together, they feel frightening and legitimately threatening to me as an individual and certainly to our woman-owned and -led business. To be treated as a second-class citizen without the agency to make decisions—who can’t be trusted or believed—is not only disempowering, it’s infuriating.
All of this is feeling even more heavy in the face of the rhetoric of the upcoming presidential election, and obviously, Idaho isn’t the only state dealing with legislation restricting human rights and creating policies that impact minority-owned businesses. In March, I attended the annual WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) Annual Conference. At the final day celebration brunch we witnessed Stephanie Smith, Senior VP at Fifth Third Bank headquartered in Ohio, present not only a big donation check to WBENC but deliver one helluva call to action. In short, Ms. Smith decried the anti-DEI legislation that is sweeping the nation and said it was up to us as woman-owned businesses to broaden our stance and get ready for the impact of the coming election.
It’s difficult to fathom what that could mean for all of us, but the leadership team at Stoltz knows that we will continue to proudly defend our business, our creative, and our people. And as exhausting as it is to feel like we’re fighting the same fight over and over, we also know we can use our own privilege to raise our voices, not only for our company and team but for women of color and all other folks who are marginalized by the current socio-political vitriol. We will continue to speak up for, give money to, and invest time in DEI initiatives for our company, our community, and our industry. We will broaden our stance, invite men to join in, and stand strong for what will lead us to the future we all deserve.
