"Activist CEO Warns: Anti-Diversity Groups Threaten Corporate Performance"

America's leading shareholder activist focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has issued a stark warning: anti-diversity groups are compelling companies to underperform. Andy Behar, CEO of As You Sow, a non-profit organization promoting environmental and social responsibility, has spoken out against anti-DEI proposals, labeling them as "anti-capitalist."

Behar's concerns are rooted in the belief that companies with diverse leadership and workforces tend to outperform their less diverse counterparts. A study by McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, supports this notion. The study found that ethnically diverse companies are 35% more likely to outperform their peers, while gender-diverse companies are 15% more likely to do the same.

Anti-diversity groups, however, have been pushing for changes that could undermine these benefits. They have proposed measures such as eliminating diversity training, rescinding supplier diversity programs, and even removing diversity-related language from company charters. These proposals, if implemented, could lead to a less diverse and less inclusive corporate environment.

Behar argues that these proposals are not only harmful to the companies themselves but also to the broader economy. He believes that a more diverse and inclusive business environment leads to better decision-making, increased innovation, and improved financial performance. By undermining these principles, anti-diversity groups could be hindering the very progress that drives economic growth.

Moreover, Behar's concerns are not unfounded. A study by the Center for Talent Innovation, a think tank focused on diversity and inclusion, found that companies with diverse leadership teams are more likely to have higher financial returns. The study also found that companies with diverse management teams are more likely to have higher levels of innovation and better problem-solving capabilities.

In light of these findings, Behar's warning is a call to action for companies and investors alike. He urges companies to stand firm against anti-diversity proposals and to continue to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organizations. He also calls on investors to support companies that prioritize DEI and to pressure those that do not.

Behar's message is clear: anti-diversity groups are not only harmful to the principles of diversity and inclusion but also to the very economic progress that drives our society forward. By standing against these groups, companies and investors can help to ensure a more diverse, equ