Here at The Visionaire Group LA (TVGla), we take pride in our name. To be a “visionaire” is to think outside the box and imagine the world as it could be. This forward-thinking perspective is fueled by the unique voices on our team, where every perspective is not only welcomed, but essential to the art of modern storytelling. Which leads us to the acronym on the tip of everyone’s tongue: DEI.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) may be a hot-button topic in corporate spaces — but beyond ethics and optics, it remains one of the most powerful drivers of innovation and performance a business can invest in. Unfortunately, some companies that embraced DEI — or what they thought it was — did so merely to check boxes and meet quotas. Now, as some begin dismantling these programs altogether, it’s more important than ever to revisit why DEI matters. Ignoring the power of DEI is not just a missed opportunity, it is a flagrant choice to walk away from driving creativity, expanding your reach, and outperforming competitors.
The numbers speak for themselves, but more importantly, so do the stories we tell.
Diversity as a Competitive Edge
Organizations that lack diversity tend to operate with a more homogenous workforce — similar experiences, similar ideas, similar output. At first glance, this uniformity might seem efficient and harmonious. To leaders and teams unaware of their unconscious biases, it may even seem ideal — fewer disagreements, faster decisions, smoother collaboration. Why challenge ideas when everyone agrees? But this surface-level ease is exactly what fuels groupthink. This sea of sameness that comes with discarding DEI protocols creates an echo chamber, limiting creativity and leading to stagnation. When everyone comes from similar backgrounds and has similar perspectives, the well of fresh ideas may run dry, leaving the company ill-equipped to navigate complex challenges or innovate effectively.
On the flip side, when an organization is built on a tapestry of unique perspectives, those differences don’t create division — they fuel innovation. Research by Cloverpop reveals that diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time, and decisions made by diverse teams deliver 60% better results. Individual stories, experiences, and viewpoints intersect to generate fresh ideas, challenge outdated thinking, and produce solutions that wouldn’t exist in a less diverse environment.
Research consistently shows that companies with diverse teams outperform their peers, particularly in industries where creativity, innovation, and problem solving are key. A 2020 McKinsey report found that companies in the top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity were 36% more likely to have above-average profitability. That same study concluded that the most gender-diverse companies are 48% more likely to outperform the least diverse ones. In a creative agency setting, this translates directly to better campaigns, stronger client relationships, and a competitive edge in an industry that thrives on fresh perspectives.
The ROI of Inclusion
Beyond financial gains, inclusion fosters a workplace where employees feel valued and empowered, leading to higher engagement, lower turnover, and increased productivity.
While race and gender are the main focus of DEI and are definitely vital to consider, other factors come into play as well. Brenda Bueno, TVGla’s head of HR, emphasizes that a healthy work/life balance is a crucial factor in maintaining a diverse workforce. “People are at different stages in life, with commitments to family, community, and beyond,” she notes. “Creating an environment that supports those needs helps sustain a more diverse and engaged workforce.”
In advertising, where turnover is notoriously around 30%, she explains, “Our agency’s turnover was 16% over the past year and a half, which is strong by industry standards.”
Retention isn’t just a metric — it’s a direct reflection of a company’s culture. According to the 2023 ERG report, “82% of employees say DEI training impacts their likelihood of staying at their company. 92% want more of it.” In an industry where differentiation and originality are essential, a truly diverse team doesn’t just help an organization keep up; it propels it forward.
Companies with a diverse work force are:
At TVGla, we recognize that the best work comes from a mix of POV, and we curate teams with a range of voices to ensure every angle is covered. This ensures our work is both culturally relevant and strategically sound, creating a natural system of checks and balances to align with audience expectations and brand messaging.
The Final Word
The numbers speak for themselves, but more importantly, so do the stories we tell. Marketing isn’t a monolith, and neither is your audience. As DEI initiatives ebb and flow, we invite agencies, industries, clients, and storytellers to embrace one simple truth: Diversity isn’t just “good optics” — it’s smart business.