As I strolled past The Spheres at Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle last November, a striking image caught my attention – not just the architecture, but the direction the company seems to be taking on some key issues.
Recently, Amazon made headlines by scrubbing any mention of diversity and inclusion from its newest annual report. Released shortly after their fourth-quarter earnings, the report for 2024 lacks the “inclusion and diversity” references found in the prior year’s “Human Capital” section. Previously, the report stated, “As we strive to be Earth’s best employer, we focus on investment and innovation, inclusion and diversity, safety, and engagement to hire and develop the best talent.” This time around, it merely states, “We strive to be Earth’s best employer,” with no further elaboration on diversity goals.
This shift comes as Amazon scales back on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. In a memo to staff, Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology, revealed that the company has been “winding down outdated programs and materials,” aiming to refine its focus among hundreds of initiatives. Castleberry emphasized that Amazon still values DEI efforts and will keep supporting some initiatives, but specifics remain ambiguous.
Additionally, Amazon has trimmed its DEI-related messages on its public policy webpage. Previously separate sections covering topics like “Equity for Black people” and “LGBTQ+ rights” have been consolidated, and notably, references to “transgender” have vanished altogether.
There’s a broader trend here, too, as tech firms are re-evaluating DEI in the post-Trump era. For instance, Google has omitted DEI language from their annual report, and Meta recently announced a retreat from programs aimed at boosting diversity in hiring. Meanwhile, fast-food giants like McDonald’s, retail behemoths like Walmart and Target, and major corporations such as Disney, GM, GE, and Pepsi are also scaling back DEI mentions in their filings.
Despite this trend, certain companies are resisting the shift. Costco, for instance, rejected a call to reassess DEI’s impact on its stock price, and Apple opposed a similar proposal. Leaders at Pinterest, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs have affirmed their commitment to DEI.
It’s important to note that Amazon is a significant employer, second only to Walmart, boasting over 1.5 million employees as of last December. Recently, Amazon had committed to increasing the number of Black executives and corporate employees within the U.S.
As Amazon consolidates its approach to DEI, it simultaneously eyes an enormous investment in artificial intelligence. CEO Andy Jassy describes this as a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” setting aside an impressive $100 billion for capital expenditures by 2025, largely focused on AI – the largest capex among the tech giants so far.
Stay tuned to see how these changes will shape Amazon’s trajectory moving forward.
