Day & Zimmermann

Tyrone Quarterman is a strategic DEI and health equity leader with a strong track record in building data-driven inclusion programs. He specializes in workforce strategy, cultural transformation and advancing measurable diversity outcomes across healthcare, life sciences and enterprise organizations.

Building Inclusive Workplace Culture

I’ve had the honor to be in the inclusion and diversity space for nearly a decade, and throughout my time, one fact has remained true: Workplace culture thrives when chemistry is high. Chemistry, in this context, means the synergy between teammates of all levels. Whether you’re in the C-suite, an intern, or anyone in between, everyone on the team wants to feel welcome and feel that the concept of “I belong” is reinforced. Having the opportunity to impact culture through diversity and inclusion directly allows me to set a precedent that we accurately represent the communities we serve and that everyone feels empowered to be their authentic selves without fear of retaliation. That contributes to a strong culture.

Trends Redefining the DEI Landscape

Among the key trends I see affecting the transformation of DEI strategies include: “Recoil”, AI, and community. The concept of recoil is one of the few negative trends that has unfortunately persisted across other industries, however, given the political environment surrounding DEI in 2026, I find decisions are made in such a way that they lead to heavy recoil, i.e., the blowback or repercussions of those decisions send shockwaves throughout organizations, leading to more pronounced changes down the line. How many times have you seen over-hiring lead to massive headcount reductions?

AI is another element that persists across almost any industry and can be positive when implemented ethically and with careful consideration of its impact. I’ve seen generative technology used to analyze large datasets, freeing practitioners to make more informed decisions regarding inclusion initiatives, something that would have taken significantly more effort in years past.

Finally, community is another aspect that has been a large boon to the DEI industry. Practitioners and those involved have come together now more than ever to share advice and crowdsource opinions from experts and others on the best way to evolve with the world around us. Sharing tips on data collection, program implementation, and more has kept DEI in tune with what’s next.

Aligning Inclusion with Business Outcomes

The desire to do good does not have to come at the expense of the need to remain profitable and achieve business goals. We must always start with what the business needs to accomplish – that is the purpose for its existence. However, the goals of the business can be framed in such a way that the objectives are attainable through meaningful diversity-minded decisions, equitable practices and inclusive policies. For example, most businesses want to expand their customer base – through a DEI lens, this could mean exploring avenues that were previously unconsidered, with the hope that you not only add a higher quantity of customers Leading Cultural Change through Collective Effort.

Simply put: Nobody does this alone. As hinted at previously, community is more important now than ever. Lean on your teammates in different departments, work with practitioners within and across industries. We must be collaborative to continue to push cultural change forward.

Building a Career in Inclusion and People Leadership

Focus on your strengths first. If you come from a technical background or you’re a licensed professional, for example, gain the most knowledge and experience in your field possible. DEI is unique in that there is no specific pathway to success besides consistency in programming and relationship building. As you become more proficient in your craft, utilize that experience to contribute meaningful feedback within your organization or to position yourself for other organizations to take advantage of your skillset. This will lead to the opportunity to engage with local and national organizations in your industry committed to equitable change.