Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

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

Anusha Harid-Paoletti: "Diversity is intertwined with success"
Colorful Diversity Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

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.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

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.

Read More

Storytelling that exposes injustices and inspires equity
- YouTube

Storytelling that exposes injustices and inspires equity

Stephanie R. Toliver is an Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction focusing on English Education and Adolescent/Secondary Literacy.

In her research, Toliver employs creativity and imagination to confront systemic inequities and promote more equitable education environments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Black History Matters Act reintroduced amid debate on education and DEI policies

Students in a classroom.

Getty Images, Solskin

Black History Matters Act reintroduced amid debate on education and DEI policies

A year ago, Karsonya Wise Whitehead helped introduce Freedom Schools, a free program dedicated to helping raise student literacy while providing education on Black History for all ages.

Dr. Whitehead—president of the Association for the Study of African American Life (ASALH), which runs the Freedom Schools—works to advance public knowledge about Black history through various programs. According to Whitehead, at least 12 states have direct mandates to teach Black history in schools, but a recent piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) looks to change that.

Keep ReadingShow less
"Diversity," "Equity" and "Inclusion" on wood blocks

"Diversity," "Equity" and "Inclusion" on wood blocks

Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images

Dismantling DEI Reinforces America's Original Sin

When President Trump signed Executive Order 14151, titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," on January 20, 2025, he didn't just eliminate diversity initiatives from federal agencies—he set in motion a sweeping transformation of the federal workforce.

The order, which terminated all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related activities across federal departments and rescinded existing affirmative action guidelines, sent shockwaves through government institutions and contractors alike. Universities began scrubbing their websites and canceling diversity events, while federal agencies scrambled to dismantle programs built over decades. The order's immediate impact was so concerning that by February 21, 2025, a federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, temporarily halting its implementation. But beyond the immediate practical implications, the executive order did something far more insidious: it codified a dangerous myth that America has somehow transcended its need to actively pursue equality.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Power of the Classroom: Why Diversity in Higher Education Matters

A professor assisting students.

Pexels, Andy Barbour

The Power of the Classroom: Why Diversity in Higher Education Matters

After the first class of the semester, a student waited patiently as I answered questions. When he finally stepped forward, he introduced himself, shook my hand, and shared that his high school teacher had advised him to do so. He was the first in his family to attend college, and his family had traveled across the state from their rural town to drop him off. My class was his first college class, and I was his first college professor. His sincerity moved me—I felt the weight of the moment and the privilege of being part of his journey.

A university education is more than lectures and exams; it’s a gateway to opportunity, transformation, and belonging. Diversity in the classroom isn’t just important—it’s essential. As a faculty member who studies leadership in post-secondary education, I see both the challenges and opportunities within higher education. The lack of diversity at top institutions impacts not just who enters our classrooms, but how students experience their education. Representation matters, and universities must reflect the diverse realities of the students they serve.

Keep ReadingShow less