Middle managers often sit at the heart of your company’s culture, but are they equipped to lead on DEI? In this episode of What’s the DEIL?, Shanté and Natalie dig into why middle managers are the “linchpin” for turning DEI strategies into real, lasting change. Drawing from research and real-world experience, they explore how these leaders juggle managing up and down, navigate fear and uncertainty around DEI, and balance competing priorities in high-pressure environments. You’ll learn why even the best-written DEI plans can stall at this level and what organizations can do to operationalize DEI so it becomes part of everyday work, not an afterthought. From identifying skill gaps to creating tailored training and building space for practice, the conversation offers practical steps for empowering managers to lead with clarity and purpose. If you’re serious about strengthening workplace culture and making DEI stick, this episode will show you where the real change begins.Follow & Connect with us:Follow Natalie Norfus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienorfus/. Follow Shante Gordon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantegordon/. We’ve led hundreds of audits, assessments, and people strategy engagements, and we’d love to help your organization. Book a consultation with The Norfus Firm: https://thenorfusfirm.com/. Follow What’s the DEIL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthedeil/. Follow What’s the DEIL on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsthedeil. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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