DEI: Di­ver­si­ty on Hold: Who Still Cares?

Across the US, entire DEI departments are being dismantled, corporate commitments reversed, and diversity officers quietly laid off. What once seemed like a non-negotiable step toward equity and representation is now under fire – not only politically, but in the heart of the creative and corporate world.
But what happens when global headquarters take a step back while local teams still want to move forward? How do German and European branches of international companies respond to this rollback – and what stance do they take in an increasingly globalised working environment?
This session kicks off with a powerful input from DEI expert Dr Sara Furr, offering a sharp transatlantic perspective on the current pushback against diversity efforts in the US creative industries – and what this means for the rest of the world.
In the following panel, leading voices from music, advertising, and media will dive into the tensions, contradictions, and opportunities of the current moment.
Can industries work across sectors and borders to build shared, binding DEI standards – even when global partners are pulling out? What happens to international collaboration and creative exchange when values like inclusion and belonging become negotiable? And what responsibility do culturally influential companies – from labels to lifestyle brands – have in setting the tone?

This is not your typical DEI talk – it’s a wake-up call.