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DEI Wasn’t the Problem. Cowardly Leadership Was
Episode 315 • 19th December 2025 • TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective • TonyTidbit ™
00:00:00 01:08:11

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Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/dei-wasnt-the-problem-cowardly-leadership-was

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In this episode of BEP Live on A Black Executive Perspective Podcast, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed confront the real reason DEI efforts stall, not because the ideas are flawed, but because too many leaders retreat when truth creates discomfort.

The conversation opens with Grace Fooden Correy, host of the newly launched A Mixed Executive Perspective Podcast, as she shares her leadership journey and why honest conversations matter when navigating identity, culture, and power. From there, the discussion expands into a powerful breakdown of an interview with Katie Couric and Bryan Stevenson, examining how historical narratives, cultural conditioning, and corporate fear continue to undermine real progress.

This episode challenges performative DEI, calls out the absence of accountability, and makes one thing clear, progress requires leaders willing to sit in discomfort, own the truth, and act with courage.

This is not about optics. It’s about leadership.


▶︎ In This Episode

00:00: Introduction to Tonight's Discussion

00:54: Interview with Grace Fooden Correy

01:39: Grace's Background and Career Journey

03:53: Launching 'A Mixed Executive Perspective' Podcast

08:55: The Fragility of DEI

12:02: Historical Context of Racial Narratives

18:50: The Impact of Cultural Narratives on DEI

23:59: Challenges and Progress in Racial Equality

36:42: Employee's Promotion Struggles

38:13: Navigating White Culture

40:50: DEI Misconceptions

42:03: Corporate Accountability

45:02: Challenges in the Fashion Industry

47:36: The Rooney Rule and Opportunities

48:21: Personal Reflections on DEI

53:36: Bryan Stevenson's Courtroom Experience

59:51: Final Thoughts and Optimism

01:02:20: Upcoming Episodes and Closing Remarks

🔗 Resources

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This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

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