Skip to content
Project 2025
Donate to support
diverse voices
Search

Latest Stories

Follow Us:
Top Stories
Cargo containers piled on each other.

The Facts on U.S.–Canada Tariffs Nearly One Year Into Trump’s Plan

Politicians Need Yoga to Enhance Their Leadership Skills

Politicians Need Yoga to Enhance Their Leadership Skills

How Republicans May Steal the 2026 and 2028 Elections

How Republicans May Steal the 2026 and 2028 Elections

For 80 Years, the President’s Party Has Almost Always Lost House Seats in Midterm Elections, a Pattern That Makes the 2026 Congressional Outlook Clear

For 80 Years, the President’s Party Has Almost Always Lost House Seats in Midterm Elections, a Pattern That Makes the 2026 Congressional Outlook Clear

Anusha Harid-Paoletti: "Diversity is intertwined with success"

Opinion

Anusha Harid-Paoletti: "Diversity is intertwined with success"
Colorful Diversity Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures
www.publicdomainpictures.net
Hugo Balta
By Hugo BaltaMar 03, 2025
Hugo Balta
Hugo Balta is a journalist, educator, and communicator. Hugo is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. He is the publisher of the Latino News Network, a trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network, and an adjunct professor teaching journalism courses.
See More Writings by author

Anusha Harid-Paoletti, the CEO of Ellevate Network.

Ellevate’s mission is to “make work, work for all” and to create a world where everyone belongs by helping women thrive at work.

I spoke with Anusha on a recent episode of Fulcrum Democracy Forum (FDF). The program engages citizens in evolving government to better meet all people's needs. Consistent with the Fulcrum's mission, FDF strives to share many perspectives to widen our readers' viewpoints.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Anusha shared that Ellevate has a reach of 200,000 plus women globally. "We have 50+ corporate sponsors that we (Ellevate) speak to," she said. "Where we have standing to speak to is what is needed in the workplace for everyone who earned their spot to truly succeed."

In February, the Fulcrum published a column by Anusha titled Even Without The Acronym, Diverse Workforces Thrive. In our conversation, she shared how data does not support President Donald Trump’s executive orders against diversity, equity, and inclusion in government. She noted, for example, that "Boards that have gender diversity are 27% more likely to outperform financially."

Anusha immigrated to the US with her family from India after spending her childhood in the United Kingdom and Dubai.

A graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, she worked in financial services at Goldman Sachs for 10 years until launching a financial technology company in 2017. "Innovation happens because you are constantly interacting with the best and the brightest from all backgrounds. I live in New York City. I feel that way about my city as well. Diversity is intertwined with success," she said.

If you have a suggestion for a change leader I should profile in an upcoming episode of the Fulcrum Democracy Forum, please email me at Hugo@thefulcrum.us.

I am the executive editor of the Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. I am also the publisher of the Latino News Network and an accredited solutions journalism trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network.


Latest news

When Separation of Powers Becomes a Suggestion
Governance & Legislation

When Separation of Powers Becomes a Suggestion

Criminals Promised, Volume Delivered: Inside ICE’s Enforcement Model
Governance & Legislation

Criminals Promised, Volume Delivered: Inside ICE’s Enforcement Model

As America Turns 250, It’s Time to Begin Again
Democracy

As America Turns 250, It’s Time to Begin Again

Illinois 2nd District Candidates Meet Up in High-Energy Town Hall
Elections

Illinois 2nd District Candidates Meet Up in High-Energy Town Hall

Read More

Barbershops Are Helping Black Boys See Themselves as Readers

One of the barbershops participating in the Barbershop Books program.

Photo courtesy of Alvin Irby

Barbershops Are Helping Black Boys See Themselves as Readers

Barbershop Books, an organization whose award‑winning literacy programs celebrate, amplify, and affirm the interests of Black boys while inspiring kids to read for fun, has spent more than a decade transforming everyday community spaces into joyful reading hubs. That mission was on full display this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when the organization partnered with a neighborhood barbershop in the Bronx—Flava In Ya Hair—to offer free haircuts and free children’s books to local families.

As families examined stacks of Dog Man, Fly Guy, Captain Underpants, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, barbershop owner Patrick shared that growing up, reading was associated with negative school experiences and used as a punishment at home. “Go in your room and read!” he said.

Keep ReadingShow less
We Can’t Let Hegseth Win His War on Women

We Can’t Let Hegseth Win His War on Women

When Hegseth ordered all top brass to assemble in Quantico in September, he declared women could either meet male standards for combat roles or get cut. Strong message, except the military was already doing that, so Hegseth was either oblivious or ignoring decades of history. Confusion aside, it reaffirmed a goal Hegseth has made clear since his Fox News days, when he said, “I'm straight up saying we should not have women in combat roles.” Now, as of January 6th, the Pentagon is planning a six-month review of women in ground combat jobs. It may come as no surprise, but this thinly veiled anti-woman agenda has no tactical security advantage.

When integrating women into combat roles was brought to Congress in 1993, a summary of findings submitted that, “although logical, such a policy would [erode] the civilizing notion that men should protect . . . women.” Archaic notions of the patriarchy almost outweighed logic; instead, luckily, as combat roles have become available to them, more and more women are now serving, increasing military readiness. As it turns out, women are highly effective in combat. Khris Fuhr, a West Point graduate who worked on gender integration at Army Forces Command, calls this new review "a solution for a problem that doesn't exist." She says an Army study between 2018 to 2023 showed women didn’t just perform well in ground combat units but sometimes scored even better than their male counterparts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Women holding signs to defend diversity at Havard

Harvard students joined in a rally protesting the Supreme Courts ruling against affirmative action in 2023.

Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Diversity Has Become a Dirty Word. It Doesn’t Have to Be.

I have an identical twin sister. Although our faces can unlock each other’s iPhones, even the two of us are not exactly the same. If identical twins can differ, wouldn’t most people be different too? Why is diversity considered a bad word?

Like me, my twin sister is in computing, yet we are unique in many ways. She works in industry, while I am in academia. She’s allergic to guinea pigs, while I had pet guinea pigs (yep, that’s how she found out). Even our voices aren’t the same. As a kid, I was definitely the chattier one, while she loved taking walks together in silence (which, of course, drove me crazy).

Keep ReadingShow less
DEI Dilemma? Start Building Community within Your Organization

Team of male and female entrepreneurs working on computers at office

Getty Images

DEI Dilemma? Start Building Community within Your Organization

Amid the pushback to DEI, an essential truth often gets lost: You have agency over how you approach building diversity, equity, and inclusion into your organization.

No executive order or unhinged rant can change that.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2026