Reconstructing Inclusion S2E5: Beyond Lived Experience: The Case for DEI Competency Standards

Reconstructing Inclusion Podcast

In this explosive episode, former legal compliance expert turned DEI strategist Ashanti Bentil-Dhue drops truth bombs about the uncomfortable reality of DEI practice. She reveals why lived experience isn't enough, challenges the notion of "social justice in the workplace," and explains why the $30 billion DEI industry needs serious reform.

Key Discussion Points:

- Why 90% of self-taught DEI practitioners are a red flag

- The controversial truth about "lived experience" as qualification

- Why charging more for being Black is undermining the profession

- The problem with "changing hearts and minds"

- What health & safety regulations can teach us about DEI's future

- The 13 core competencies every DEI professional needs

🔥 Standout Quote:

"If you're saying I, me, my when you're consulting, advising, training, then you're not leading with neutrality." - Ashanti

About Our Guest:

Ashanti Bentil-Dhue is the founder of the Competence Centre for Workplace Equity. With a background in legal and financial compliance, she's leading the charge for professional standards in DEI practice.

Resources Mentioned:

- The Competence Centre for Workplace Equity

- "Be Your Future Self Now" by Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Time Stamps:

04:00 - Ashanti's background in compliance

12:00 - The competency crisis in DEI

15:45 - Debunking 'lived experience'

24:30 - Future of DEI regulation

33:20 - Ethical pricing in DEI

37:00 - Business transformation vs social justice

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