{"id":15780,"date":"2025-11-21T09:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T14:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/?p=15780"},"modified":"2025-11-21T11:10:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:10:16","slug":"what-is-dei-and-why-do-business-schools-care-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/what-is-dei-and-why-do-business-schools-care-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is DEI, and Why Do Business Schools Care About It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a collection of policies and programs within an organization designed to encourage representation and participation of people across all racial, ethnic, gender, religious, and ability backgrounds. With the increased attention being paid to DEI principles both across the United States and around the world, tomorrow\u2019s business leaders need to understand how to encourage and promote participation among diverse groups of people\u2014not just those who historically have had an easier time rising to the top of companies.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past, elements of DEI were included in human capital\u2013 or organizational behavior\u2013focused classes. However, some MBA programs now integrate DEI teaching across their core curriculum, elective curriculum, and specializations so that future leaders across all functions understand why it\u2019s important that their organizations have diverse representation and participation: it\u2019s a moral imperative, and it improves the bottom line. For example, one study by Boston Consulting Group found that diverse management teams can raise revenues by 19%, while further research showed a 50% reduction in attrition risk. Diversity in an organization also leads to more creative ideas, stronger satisfaction and retention, and a stronger brand in the marketplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the current political climate has caused some schools to change, rename, or even take away (on paper) some of their DEI initiatives, MBA programs still see diversity and inclusion as a priority. For instance, business schools including <\/span>Berkeley Haas<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>UCLA Anderson<\/b><\/a> have reaffirmed their focus on diversity and inclusion, while others are maintaining their commitment to presenting the concepts in the classroom. Business school officials know that in this increasingly complex world, industries require diversity to solve the problems they face. As such, the classroom must reflect that same diversity of thought, experience, and background. So, regardless of whether a major, concentration, department, or event exists in the same manner as a year ago, the principles still remain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Weaving DEI into MBA Teaching<\/span><\/h2>\n

These are some of the different ways that DEI is integrated at top MBA programs:<\/span><\/p>\n