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HER Agency

7: Is DEI Dead? The Truth About Inclusion & Business with Aisha Bean

DEI is under attack—but does that mean the movement is over? Not even close. In this episode of Her Agency, I sit down with Aisha Bean, the Chief Diversity Officer of Cashmere Agency to break down the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s business world. Aisha brings over 17 years of HR experience from leading Silicon Beach tech companies like Experian Interactive Media, Core Digital Media, (mt) Media Temple, and GoDaddy. After 6 years of building the People & Culture function before merging with Media Monks, Aisha is well-equipped to lead such initiatives. As a people and culture evangelist, Aisha champions the mission of driving the business with DEI initiatives. This includes developing strategies, cultural programming, and management coaching efforts to empower the company's most valuable asset – the people. In addition, Aisha actively ensures a safe and rewarding work environment by implementing culturally-informed solutions for the agency's clients. In this candid conversation, we discuss the shift from 2020’s corporate commitments to today’s rollbacks, what it means for businesses and culture, and why ignoring DEI isn’t just a moral misstep—it’s bad for business. From Rihanna’s Fenty empire changing the industry to the new generation of marketers demanding authenticity, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of culture and commerce. If you’re wondering what’s next for DEI and how to stay in the game, press play now. KEY POINTS - Aisha’s career journey, the importance of self-confidence  - Life strategy and planning vs therapy and manifesting - The role of DEI in making people thrive in environments - The current state of DEI and its work-life integration  - Examples of brands and companies that support DEI efforts - Aisha as a people and culture evangelist - Tech and multicultural marketing: need for inclusive AI tools - On creating real connections in advertising  - The future of cultural agencies, involve finance QUOTABLES  "When we talk about her agency, my own personal agency, it's about life strategy." – Aisha Bean "Write your own story. Build Community. Show up like the proof is in the pudding of what you do. And if you haven't done it yet — you will —you will give yourself the opportunity and time and show and prove [that] you can do it. You got this." – Aisha Bean GUEST RESOURCES  Aisha Bean IG | https://www.instagram.com/raqibee/ https://www.instagram.com/cashmereagency/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishabean  Get In Touch with Brandi Rand! IG | https://www.instagram.com/brandi_rand/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandirand/   HER Agency, The Collective | http://heragency.co/  Follow Us on IG:  instagram.com/heragencypod/  Are you a Black woman thriving in advertising or ready to start? Join HER Agency, The Collective—a community designed for you to build, connect, and own your agency with women who share your journey. Let’s have real conversations, elevate our brands, and make space where we belong. Join The Collective Today! Her Agency is produced by EPYC Media Network (https://www.epyc.co/) 
Broadcast on:
10 Mar 2025

DEI is under attack—but does that mean the movement is over? Not even close. In this episode of Her Agency, I sit down with Aisha Bean, the Chief Diversity Officer of Cashmere Agency to break down the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s business world.


Aisha brings over 17 years of HR experience from leading Silicon Beach tech companies like Experian Interactive Media, Core Digital Media, (mt) Media Temple, and GoDaddy. After 6 years of building the People & Culture function before merging with Media Monks, Aisha is well-equipped to lead such initiatives.


As a people and culture evangelist, Aisha champions the mission of driving the business with DEI initiatives. This includes developing strategies, cultural programming, and management coaching efforts to empower the company's most valuable asset – the people. In addition, Aisha actively ensures a safe and rewarding work environment by implementing culturally-informed solutions for the agency's clients.


In this candid conversation, we discuss the shift from 2020’s corporate commitments to today’s rollbacks, what it means for businesses and culture, and why ignoring DEI isn’t just a moral misstep—it’s bad for business. From Rihanna’s Fenty empire changing the industry to the new generation of marketers demanding authenticity, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of culture and commerce.


If you’re wondering what’s next for DEI and how to stay in the game, press play now.


KEY POINTS

- Aisha’s career journey, the importance of self-confidence 

- Life strategy and planning vs therapy and manifesting

- The role of DEI in making people thrive in environments

- The current state of DEI and its work-life integration 

- Examples of brands and companies that support DEI efforts

- Aisha as a people and culture evangelist

- Tech and multicultural marketing: need for inclusive AI tools

- On creating real connections in advertising 

- The future of cultural agencies, involve finance


QUOTABLES 


"When we talk about her agency, my own personal agency, it's about life strategy." – Aisha Bean


"Write your own story. Build Community. Show up like the proof is in the pudding of what you do. And if you haven't done it yet — you will —you will give yourself the opportunity and time and show and prove [that] you can do it. You got this." – Aisha Bean


GUEST RESOURCES 


Aisha Bean


IG | https://www.instagram.com/raqibee/

https://www.instagram.com/cashmereagency/ 


LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishabean 



Get In Touch with Brandi Rand!

IG | https://www.instagram.com/brandi_rand/ 

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandirand/  


HER Agency, The Collective | http://heragency.co/ 

Follow Us on IG:  instagram.com/heragencypod/ 


Are you a Black woman thriving in advertising or ready to start? Join HER Agency, The Collective—a community designed for you to build, connect, and own your agency with women who share your journey. Let’s have real conversations, elevate our brands, and make space where we belong. Join The Collective Today!




Her Agency is produced by EPYC Media Network (https://www.epyc.co/) 

DEI is under attack—but does that mean the movement is over? Not even close. In this episode of Her Agency, I sit down with Aisha Bean, the Chief Diversity Officer of Cashmere Agency to break down the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s business world. Aisha brings over 17 years of HR experience from leading Silicon Beach tech companies like Experian Interactive Media, Core Digital Media, (mt) Media Temple, and GoDaddy. After 6 years of building the People & Culture function before merging with Media Monks, Aisha is well-equipped to lead such initiatives. As a people and culture evangelist, Aisha champions the mission of driving the business with DEI initiatives. This includes developing strategies, cultural programming, and management coaching efforts to empower the company's most valuable asset – the people. In addition, Aisha actively ensures a safe and rewarding work environment by implementing culturally-informed solutions for the agency's clients. In this candid conversation, we discuss the shift from 2020’s corporate commitments to today’s rollbacks, what it means for businesses and culture, and why ignoring DEI isn’t just a moral misstep—it’s bad for business. From Rihanna’s Fenty empire changing the industry to the new generation of marketers demanding authenticity, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of culture and commerce. If you’re wondering what’s next for DEI and how to stay in the game, press play now. KEY POINTS - Aisha’s career journey, the importance of self-confidence  - Life strategy and planning vs therapy and manifesting - The role of DEI in making people thrive in environments - The current state of DEI and its work-life integration  - Examples of brands and companies that support DEI efforts - Aisha as a people and culture evangelist - Tech and multicultural marketing: need for inclusive AI tools - On creating real connections in advertising  - The future of cultural agencies, involve finance QUOTABLES  "When we talk about her agency, my own personal agency, it's about life strategy." – Aisha Bean "Write your own story. Build Community. Show up like the proof is in the pudding of what you do. And if you haven't done it yet — you will —you will give yourself the opportunity and time and show and prove [that] you can do it. You got this." – Aisha Bean GUEST RESOURCES  Aisha Bean IG | https://www.instagram.com/raqibee/ https://www.instagram.com/cashmereagency/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishabean  Get In Touch with Brandi Rand! IG | https://www.instagram.com/brandi_rand/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandirand/   HER Agency, The Collective | http://heragency.co/  Follow Us on IG:  instagram.com/heragencypod/  Are you a Black woman thriving in advertising or ready to start? Join HER Agency, The Collective—a community designed for you to build, connect, and own your agency with women who share your journey. Let’s have real conversations, elevate our brands, and make space where we belong. Join The Collective Today! Her Agency is produced by EPYC Media Network (https://www.epyc.co/)