In the wake of last summer’s affirmative action decision and a slew of litigations against racial equity focused initiatives, the landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has undergone significant shifts, sparking intense debates and pushback. The decision has reignited contentious discussions surrounding race-conscious admissions policies, exposing deep-rooted societal divisions and raising critical questions about fairness, meritocracy, and the pursuit of diversity in educational institutions and in the workplace. While some view the decision as a victory for equal treatment and merit-based selection, others argue that it undermines efforts to address systemic inequalities and perpetuates exclusionary practices based on race or sexuality. This far-reaching discussion will take a data-driven approach to access what has worked and what hasn’t in DEI efforts.

Moderator

Richard Ditizio

CEO, Milken Institute

Speakers

Bill Ackman

Founder and CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management L.P.

John Hope Bryant

Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE, Inc.

Dina DiLorenzo

President, Guggenheim Investments

Jarvis V. Hollingsworth

Chair, Teacher Retirement System of Texas; Vice Chairman, Irradiant Partners, LP