DEI in Flux: What Endures, What Evolves, What Ends
The DEI space is undergoing seismic transformation—and many are grappling with fear, fatigue, and fury in response. As political pressure intensifies and corporate DEI investments shrink, it’s time for a courageous conversation about what inclusion truly means in today’s America—and tomorrow’s.
Join Cassandra Worthy, CEO of Change Enthusiasm Global, for an urgent and unflinching dialogue with two trailblazing voices in equity and leadership: Linda Quarles and Tara Jaye Frank. Together, they’ll unpack the origins of DEI, reflect on its evolution, and illuminate the path forward—naming what has opportunity to be left behind and what must be fiercely protected.
Featuring the powerful words of Stacey Abrams as a launch point, this conversation is not about doom—it’s about direction. Where have we been? Where are we now? And where must we go next to ensure that inclusion isn’t a moment, but a movement that endures?
About our panelists
Linda Quarles
Linda Quarles is a seasoned executive who brings seasoned, pragmatic and inspired leadership in strategy, innovation, design, organization, talent, and change. She provides a broad range of consultative services to build capability and improve organizational performance with clients globally. Her transformation clients include Gap Inc., Pfizer, Progressive, JLL, Humana, Google, American Express, BNY Mellon, Nestle, Bristol Myers Squibb, Hyundai, Facebook, Lufthansa, IKEA, Starbucks, UNICEF.
After nearly three decades leading organization transformations at enterprises including Microsoft, Owens Corning, BAE Systems, and CIGNA, Linda brings empathy for leaders driving culture change, innovation and growth in organizations from startups to Fortune 50. Highlights include a corporate startup; all-time stock high for a 80-year old manufacturing company; 500% consulting practice revenue increase in one year; and 30% increase in sales revenue per head. She has lived and worked globally and specializes in cross-cultural entry. Her data-based behavioral science approach is influenced by neuroscience and human centered design.
Connect with Linda on LinkedIn
Tara Jaye Frank
Tara Jaye Frank is a workplace culture and leadership strategist who has advised and educated thousands of Fortune 500 executives across multiple industries and large member organizations. Her work, fueled by a deep belief in the creative power and potential of all, focuses on building bridges between people, ideas, and opportunity.
Before founding The Waymakers Change Group—a culture and leadership consultancy that helps mid-sized and large companies deeply understand their employee experience and build capacity to lead all people well, Tara spent twenty-one years at Hallmark, where she served in multiple executive roles, including vice-president creative writing and editorial, vice-president business innovation, vice-president multicultural strategy, and corporate culture advisor to the president.
Her last book, The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence (May 2022), is an invitation to all people with power and position to open doors, remove barriers, and facilitate access and opportunity for all people.