Equity in Action: How to Turn Ideas into Tangible Change
Equity work often starts with vision. We gather in rooms, virtual or physical, to imagine a better future: where more voices are heard, more people belong, and systems serve us more justly.
Equity work often starts with vision. We gather in rooms, virtual or physical, to imagine a better future: where more voices are heard, more people belong, and systems serve us more justly. But then comes the hard part: turning that vision into reality.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder five years ago, my phone didn’t stop ringing. CEOs and HR leaders called daily, asking for support to “have the race conversation.” They were ready to talk. They wanted to do better.
But wanting to do better is only the beginning.
At The RoundTable Institute, we’ve always said that equity is not a one-time event. It’s a practice. And that practice is made real through action, not intention. Equity shows up in how meetings are structured, how people are hired and promoted, how conflict is handled, and how decisions are made. It lives in the everyday, not just the headlines.
So what does turning an idea into action actually look like?
It looks like reviewing your hiring process and noticing who never makes it past the first interview.
It looks like shifting who holds the mic in your team meetings.
It looks like budgeting time for self-reflection after conflict instead of rushing to resolution.
It looks like ensuring your values are embedded in policies, not just posters.
Right now, the spotlight on DEI has faded. People haven’t stopped caring, but they’re afraid to be seen caring. That’s the reality we’re working within. But we’re still here. And we’re still helping leaders walk their talk, because equity isn’t optional. It’s fundamental.
The truth is: there is no perfect roadmap. Every workplace, team, and leader will need a different entry point. But if you’re looking for where to start, begin with the gap between what you say matters and how you actually show up.
And then take one step forward.
And then another.
That’s equity in action.