The field of ESG has worked hard to prove its business value. It’s taken years to get boards and investors to see that sustainability contributes to the bottom line. This is especially true for DEI. Once targeted by anti-ESG and culture war skeptics, opponents began pushing the narrative that DEI was bad for business. The infamous line “go woke, go broke” entered the zeitgeist. However, diverse and inclusive workplaces have always created value, and a recent poll shows most Americans agree. Last month, Gallup discovered:
“Perceptions of the business benefits of workforce diversity grew more positive across all three partisan groups between 2025 and 2026, with Democrats, independents and Republicans all becoming more positive in 2026 despite continued wide differences in their overall views.”
Just how much is this perception growing? When asked if it is true that “businesses with a diverse workforce are more profitable,” 71% of respondents agreed. That is up from 59% in 2024. Additionally, 75% believed that “businesses with a diverse workforce make more innovative products,” up from 63% in 2024.
Perhaps this shift in public opinion is driven by recent economic experiences. To quote Joni Mitchell: “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” Economic anxieties are rising along with the cost of living under a staunchly anti-DEI administration. However, while Americans overwhelmingly feel that DEI is important to business, only 34% believe that businesses are doing a good job in that area. What’s particularly interesting is that this rise in sentiment around DEI’s business value holds across the political spectrum. Companies should watch this shift, as it may soon become an investor priority and a consumer demand.
Our members can learn more about ESG business value here.
