February 8, 2025

Accenture, the global consulting giant with a workforce of nearly 800,000, has decided to discontinue its diversity and inclusion (D&I) goals, marking a significant shift in its approach. This decision, conveyed through a memo by CEO Julie Sweet, comes after an “evaluation” of internal policies and the evolving U.S. political landscape. Sweet emphasized that the company would begin “sunsetting” its 2017-established diversity goals, including career development initiatives targeted at specific demographic groups.

The move reflects the changing corporate stance on diversity in the wake of a shifting political environment, particularly since the presidency of Donald Trump. During his tenure, Trump’s administration took a firm stance against what it termed “discriminatory” D&I measures, culminating in a series of executive orders aimed at limiting federal diversity programs. This sparked a broader trend, with major companies such as Meta, McDonald’s, and Target reevaluating or abandoning their diversity goals. Accenture’s decision aligns with this growing corporate pushback, indicating a broader shift within the corporate world toward reassessing diversity efforts in response to political pressure.

Accenture had set ambitious targets in 2017 to increase gender diversity in its workforce. Its goal was for half of its staff to be women by 2025, along with a 30% target for women in leadership roles by 2025. The company also committed to improving ethnic minority representation in specific regions, such as the U.S. and the UK. However, Sweet stated in the memo that these goals would no longer be used to measure employee performance.

Sweet, who took the helm at Accenture in 2019, had previously championed the cause of diversity. In a 2020 interview, she called the commitment to diversity a fundamental and moral responsibility, stating that it was a key priority for the company’s leadership. Her leadership was often highlighted as a positive force for change, and Accenture’s public reports often boasted of its progress toward achieving gender equality in the workplace.

Despite this past emphasis on D&I, Sweet now underscores that Accenture’s targets have largely been met and that the focus would shift toward building a workplace based on merit and free from bias. In a message resonating with the political climate fostered under Trump’s administration, Sweet echoed the belief that workplace policies should prioritize merit, a concept that aligns with the former president’s desire to phase out policies that promote diversity in favor of a merit-based society.

The company has also paused its participation in external diversity benchmarking surveys and announced an evaluation of its external partnerships related to D&I. While the memo indicates that Accenture remains committed to an inclusive workplace, the shift signals a broader reevaluation of diversity policies by large corporations in a polarized political environment.

Accenture’s move is likely to spark further debate on the effectiveness of diversity targets in achieving true inclusivity. As corporations navigate a complex political landscape, they will need to strike a delicate balance between fulfilling social responsibilities and addressing growing concerns over political influence on corporate governance.