How Leading Companies Are Strengthening DEI in 2025

How Inclusive Workplaces Drive Talent Retention, Innovation, and Business Success

In 2025, workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) continue to gain momentum worldwide. Companies across Canada, Europe, and Asia are strengthening their DEI commitments, recognizing that inclusive workplaces drive innovation, attract top talent, and build customer loyalty—all essential for long-term success.

Leading organizations like JPMorgan Chase, UBS, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Costco are reinforcing DEI as a core part of their business strategy. As industries evolve, companies that integrate DEI into their culture are not just adapting—they’re thriving. Why? Because DEI drives innovation, attracts top talent, and strengthens customer loyalty—all essential for long-term success. Organizations that embed DEI into their culture and strategy will stay ahead.

The key to success? It is to focus on practical, results-driven inclusion efforts that enhance workplace performance, foster innovation, and create lasting business impact.

Why DEI is More Than a Trend – It’s a Business Strategy

Is DEI Still a Priority in 2025? Absolutely—Here’s Why.

Leading Fortune 500 companies and global brands continue to strengthen and refine their DEI strategies, not as a trend, but as a core business driver. Organizations that embed inclusion into their culture see higher financial performance, stronger workforce engagement, and increased customer loyalty.

The latest research confirms that:

• Companies with diverse leadership teams are 33% more likely to financially outperform their peers. (McKinsey)
• 56% of U.S. workers actively support workplace DEI efforts. (Pew Research)
• 64% of consumers make purchasing decisions based on a company’s commitment on DEI.

The takeaway? DEI isn’t just about ethics—it’s a proven strategy for business growth, talent retention, and long-term market success. Companies investing in DEI today aren’t just keeping up—they’re leading the future of business.

1. DEI Attracts and Retains Top Talent

The modern workforce has changed. Millennials and Gen Z now make up the majority of employees worldwide, and these generations actively seek employers with inclusive cultures.

• 76% of job seekers consider diversity when evaluating potential employers.
• Employees in inclusive workplaces report higher engagement, satisfaction, and productivity.
• Companies with diverse leadership see a 19% increase in innovation revenue.

Why Companies That Invest in DEI Outperform in Hiring & Retention

Microsoft continues to invest in DEI as part of its global talent strategy, focusing on inclusive hiring, leadership development, and equitable pay practices.

JPMorgan Chase has maintained its DEI commitment, with CEO Jamie Dimon stating, “We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community, the veterans community.” (Business Insider)

Google and Apple have strengthened DEI hiring programs, using AI-driven technology to ensure fair recruitment and promotion opportunities.

When companies invest in workplace belonging, fair pay practices, and inclusive leadership development, they create environments where employees feel valued and motivated to perform at their best.

2. DEI Strengthens Consumer Loyalty and Brand Reputation

Consumers are paying close attention to the values of the companies they support. Brands that authentically integrate DEI into their culture and marketing build trust, credibility, and customer loyalty. This isn’t just a trend in the U.S.—DEI is shaping global brand perception. Consumers in Canada, Europe, and Asia are holding companies accountable for their inclusion efforts, making DEI a business necessity across markets.

How Inclusive Brands Build Stronger Customer Connections

• 64% of global consumers will make purchasing decisions based on its social impact.
• Customers are more likely to trust companies that showcase diversity in leadership and advertising.
• Brands with inclusive messaging reach 30% more consumers in key demographics.

Nike has continued investing in diverse storytelling in its marketing campaigns, strengthening its global brand.

Amazon has increased its supplier diversity programs, ensuring more opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

e.l.f. Beauty and Costco continue to prioritize DEI because they see inclusion as a long-term driver of customer loyalty and growth. (CNN)

When brands take action—not just make statements—they attract socially conscious consumers and future-proof their reputation.

3. DEI Drives Business Innovation and Financial Growth

Diverse teams don’t just make workplaces more inclusive—they generate stronger financial results.

• Companies in the top quartile for diversity outperform competitors by 33%.
• Inclusive companies see better decision-making, faster problem-solving, and stronger adaptability to market changes.
• McKinsey research shows that firms with gender-diverse leadership are 21% more likely to be profitable.

UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti affirmed that the bank’s DEI policies remain unchanged, stating that DEI is intrinsic to UBS’s culture and independent of political changes. (Financial Times)

Gensler and Jacobs have introduced inclusive design strategies to make their products more accessible to global markets.

For businesses looking to stay ahead, prioritizing diverse hiring, leadership development, and inclusive team cultures is no longer optional—it’s essential.

How Companies Can Strengthen DEI as a Competitive Advantage

To make DEI a lasting driver of success, organizations can focus on business-driven, measurable strategies that align with their goals:

Develop inclusive leadership. Instead of stand-alone DEI programs, integrate inclusion into leadership training and team culture to drive meaningful change.

Leverage data to enhance workplace performance. Go beyond diversity metrics—track engagement, productivity, and retention to measure DEI’s impact on business outcomes.

Position DEI as a business growth strategy. Frame inclusion as a driver of innovation, talent retention, and market competitiveness, rather than as a compliance initiative.

By embedding DEI into leadership, performance measurement, and business strategy, companies can create inclusive workplaces that fuel success, strengthen teams, and drive long-term impact.

The Future of DEI is Global

The business world is evolving, and companies that embed inclusion into their strategy are setting themselves up for long-term success—not just in the U.S., but globally. Across Canada, the UK, Germany, India, and Japan, corporate DEI policies and programs continue to strengthen, reinforcing inclusion as an international business standard. DEI isn’t just a commitment—it’s a proven strategy for building resilient, high-performing workplaces that drive innovation and growth.

✔ Inclusive companies attract top talent.
✔ They build stronger customer relationships.
✔ They drive higher profitability and innovation.

Canada, the UK, Germany, India, and Japan have all expanded workplace DEI policies. The EU now enforces corporate diversity reporting standards, making DEI a business requirement. Asian companies are rapidly investing in gender diversity, inclusive hiring, and accessibility programs. Companies in Latin America and Africa are integrating DEI into workforce development to increase economic opportunities.

Leading companies are embracing DEI as a long-term business strategy, aligning with global counterparts to drive innovation, talent retention, and market success. The question isn’t ‘Should we invest in DEI?’ but ‘How can we make inclusion a lasting competitive advantage?

The companies that answer this well won’t just do the right thing—they’ll lead the future of business worldwide.