5 Things / Transparency

I’ve remembered a truth lately: when things feel shaky, people want more communication, not less. Even if it’s imperfect. Even if it’s “we don’t know yet.” Especially then.

After last week’s newsletter, many of you replied. Thank you for the reminder that transparency builds trust.

This week, I talked to a few ERG leaders who are seeing members pull back and freeze out of suspicion at their employer – because messaging feels vague and overly filtered. One told me, “It doesn’t feel like anything is moving, but the company isn’t actually backing down. Employees just can’t see that.”

Another said, “All our work has to align to business outcomes now. That’s harder for members to accept than it is for leaders.”

These are not small things. But they’re not signs to stop. They’re signs to evolve. To speak louder. To keep building trust in the in-between with as much transparency as is possible.

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Love Locked In, Court Be Damned

   • Colorado has officially repealed its same-sex marriage ban, despite it already being invalidated by the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. This move acts as a critical safeguard in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Obergefell, as two justices have suggested. Thirty-five states still have dormant bans, and some are actively working to reintroduce anti-LGBTQ+ legislation under the guise of “covenant marriage.” ♐ This is an important blueprint for other states to preemptively codify equality before judicial protections disappear.

2. Harvard to Trump: Not Your Campus

   • Harvard University rejected Trump administration demands that threaten $9B in research funding, including audits of academic views and forced changes to hiring. The University calls the move unconstitutional and a threat to free inquiry. Already, $2.2B in grants have been frozen. Harvard’s bold stand matters: it defends academic freedom from political overreach and upholds the autonomy of higher education as a pillar of democracy. ♐ Some values are non-negotiable.

3. Color Blindness? Read Between the Lines

   • Navneet Education’s new children’s book quietly screens for color blindness using Ishihara-style patterns embedded in everyday lessons with no exams, no extra cost. With over 10 million kids in India potentially affected, undiagnosed color blindness can derail early learning, especially in visually demanding subjects like science or math. This book, co-designed with educators and eye doctors, empowers teachers and families to catch vision issues before they’re mislabeled as behavioral or comprehension problems. ♐ Make accessibility feel seamless, not separate.

4. Fifteen Percent and Going Strong

   • In a year when many companies are quietly walking back DEI commitments, The Fifteen Percent Pledge is holding strong—with zero partners dropping out in 2025. The nonprofit challenges companies to dedicate 15% of shelf space to Black-owned businesses. So far, it’s redirected nearly $14 billion in revenue to those businesses through 29 active partners like Sephora, Nordstrom, and Yelp. ♐ While brands like Target never signed on—and are now retreating from inclusion efforts altogether—the Pledge is doubling down, offering deeper support and accountability to its partners.

5. Frontline Ideas, Billion-Dollar Impact

   • More companies are proving that when frontline employees are heard, business wins. Frontline workers, often people of color in lower-paid roles, are closest to the customer. Ignoring them wastes insight and reinforces inequality, but some companies are getting it right. WorkJam CEO Steven Kramer shared how retail staff caught a product defect early—saving the brand from massive returns and bad press. ABM Industries, with 100,000+ frontline workers, runs Shark Tank-style pitch contests, turning employee ideas into real innovations. Medtronic’s former CEO Bill George spent 30% of his time with frontline teams, crediting them with sharpening customer insights and improving company performance.

Good Vibes to Go:

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