Fairness in the Workplace after DEI with Lily Zheng
Wed Jan 14 2026
The way we've been approaching workplace fairness might be fundamentally broken. After years of performative diversity initiatives and corporate virtue signaling, many organizations are abandoning DEI altogether—but that doesn't mean the work isn't still needed. The real challenge isn't whether fairness matters, it's how we actually create it.
Lily Zheng joins the Made Leader podcast to discuss their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All. complaining with people like you, and what early leaders can do to create change even without organizational power.
Lily breaks down the biggest misconceptions about equity work, reveals why post-2020 DEI initiatives were destined to fail, and provides practical strategies for removing barriers and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Lily: https://www.lilyzheng.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
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The way we've been approaching workplace fairness might be fundamentally broken. After years of performative diversity initiatives and corporate virtue signaling, many organizations are abandoning DEI altogether—but that doesn't mean the work isn't still needed. The real challenge isn't whether fairness matters, it's how we actually create it. Lily Zheng joins the Made Leader podcast to discuss their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All. complaining with people like you, and what early leaders can do to create change even without organizational power. Lily breaks down the biggest misconceptions about equity work, reveals why post-2020 DEI initiatives were destined to fail, and provides practical strategies for removing barriers and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co Connect with Lily: https://www.lilyzheng.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/ Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/