Erika Cospy Carr has taken the helm of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, becoming the first leader outside of founder Gerry Fernandez. She is focused on strengthening the talent pipeline and showcasing career pathways for minorities in the restaurant industry, and despite pushback on DEI policies, she aims to evolve MFHA's work by emphasizing leadership development and broadening partnership networks.

Conservative group The American Alliance for Equal Rights has filed a federal lawsuit against McDonald's, claiming that the company's scholarship program for Hispanic and Latino high school students is racially discriminatory. "McDonald's announced its evolution on our inclusion work last week, and part of that process will be reviewing programs, in partnership with our franchisees as applicable, to ensure these programs align with our vision moving forward," said the company in a statement.

Chef Kristi Brown of Communion R&B in Seattle is redefining identity through her culinary style Seattle Soul, which combines Southern cuisine with influences from Asian and immigrant communities. Brown discusses her journey, her community initiative Everybody Gotta Eat and her desire "to create a space where identity, creativity, and community intersect."

Meta has ended major diversity, equity and inclusion programs, citing a changing "legal and policy landscape," and Amazon is scaling back some DEI initiatives. The decision at Meta affects suppliers as well as direct employees, with the company reportedly switching focus to small and medium-sized businesses.  

Apple is urging shareholders to vote against a proposal by the National Center for Public Policy Research to eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The company argues that the proposal would improperly limit its ability to manage operations and that its existing compliance procedures already address related risks.

Becca Mandru of CA Carlin emphasizes the importance of authentic leadership in supporting women in the workforce, highlighting the need for a work culture rooted in support, resilience and open dialogue. Mandru notes that women leaders enhance workplace inclusivity and profitability, and she shares personal experiences to illustrate the balance between career and family.

PepsiCo's strategy for managing its workforce effectively depends on creating an inclusive culture, doing as much as possible with technology and prioritizing employee well-being, says CEO Ramon Laguarta. The company says its focus areas have led to better retention, deeper employee engagement and recognition.

The "leadership playground" at Lego nurtures behaviors like bravery, focus and curiosity, says Chief People Officer Loren Shuster, who explains that the volunteer playground builders ensure broad representation and buy-in across the company. "It came from you; this is built for you, by you, and not by a bunch of executives who may or may not be in touch with what's happening in every part of the organization. It has a built-in mechanism of representation," says Shuster.