DAD - Overcoming diversity opposition

Guest faculty

Dr. Nadine Binder, Annelie Wambeek

Why participate

Despite increasing diversity in societies globally, there is a new, strong strand of resistance to initiatives aimed at Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) across sectors and regions. This opposition varies, ranging from apathy ("Why bother?") and defensiveness ("Don’t make me feel guilty.") to corrective (“D&I has gone too far.”) and even aggressive "anti-woke" movements.

To meet and challenge this reality head-on, this 2-day course first explores the underlying reasons people disengage or resist in this area. Then, we identify practical communication and behavioural strategies that you can use to help successfully address various forms of resistance and begin to (re)engage in constructive, belonging-focused conversations.

Informed by insights from intergroup and social psychology, you will leave with practical approaches that both respect people’s diversity concerns and underlying needs so that you can begin to reduce resistance and shift their attitudes towards more constructive D&I engagement.

While the opposition you encounter is unique to your circumstances, the approaches in this course are globally relevant and adaptable across sectors. You can customize them to navigate your own cultural and organizational contexts—whether in teams, projects, classrooms, or organization-wide.

Participant profile/requirements

This course is for you if you are an in-house or external D&I professional or trainer/multiplier/educator who helps those who:

• Are implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives within their organisations or help organizations implement such initiatives in an external role;
• Offer D&I focused training to help people collaborate and/or lead in more inclusive ways;
• Work with those who express opposition to D&I, such as apathy, skepticism, or pushback.

While this course is open to all who want to learn how to overcome diversity opposition, this course will be most beneficial if you have some experience with implementing D&I initiatives, such as training, mentoring programs, recruitment practices, or larger change efforts. 

Contact us if you have questions about the suitability of this course for your circumstances.

Learning outcomes

In this course, you will learn how to help yourself and those you work with so that you/they can better: 

• Identify different types of D&I opposition prevalent today as illustrated in real-world examples.
• Analyze and articulate three core underlying issues behind this resistance.
• Apply effective three communication strategies to begin to address these underlying issues.
• Start designing “belonging”-focused strategies (e.g. incentive structures) and environments that can successfully counter D&I resistance narratives.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Participation listing 12 contact learning hours.
 

Participant reflections

Here's what past participants have to say about these instructors:

• “Annelie and Nadine are knowledgeable and incredibly generous with their knowledge. They both created a safe space with empathy and clarity. The discussions they led were both thoughtful and thought-provoking.”
• “I would not have missed it! It was such an insightful and moving learning experience.”

For course additional details see the Institute for Developing Across Differences website. 

Early-bird rate € 1050

Standard rate as from 15 February 2026: € 1125

Beschikbare data