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Summary.
Proponents of DEI face an enormous struggle over the next four years. The incoming Trump administration has signaled it will escalate the already virulent anti-DEI backlash in the workplace. Leaders who want to build just and inclusive organizations amid these challenging conditions can look to a framework developed eight years ago to help multinational corporations support LGBTQ+ inclusion in countries that are hostile to LGBTQ+ rights. Companies can follow: 1) the “When in Rome” model, in which they adhere to local norms and laws, even if that means diluting some of their DEI commitments; 2) the “Embassy” model, in which they adopt DEI policies internally but do not push for larger societal change; or 3) the “Advocate” model, in which they seek to shift local laws and social norms in a pro-DEI direction.Those who support the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion are rightly concerned about the impact of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.