23 Feb 2026
38m

771: Fixing Fairness in the Workplace, with Lily Zheng

Podcast cover

Coaching for Leaders

The discussion centers on fairness in the workplace, challenging the assumption that disagreement dominates the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lily Zheng, author of "Fixing Fairness," highlights that 82% of people agree on the value of diversity, despite the perception that support is much lower. Traditional DEI approaches often fail because they underestimate the complexity of the issue, treating it as a one-time event rather than a systemic problem requiring goals, tracking, and accountability. Zheng advocates for understanding the existing workplace environment and culture, using tools like surveys and network analysis to reveal incentivized behaviors. The importance of storytelling is emphasized to build a shared understanding of the need for change, and the design of interventions should focus on smart, targeted tweaks rather than expensive, broad-scale efforts.

Outlines

Part 1: Context, Challenges of DEI

Part 2: Organizational Analysis, Culture

Part 3: Strategic Interventions, Inclusion

Part 4: Standards, Future Outlook

Sign in to continue reading, translating and more.

Open full episode in Podwise