Michael Bach on why inclusion works best when everyone’s part of the conversation

Live from the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Michael Bach—CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and longtime DEI data advocate. What starts as a light-hearted nod to Bach’s rainbow pocket square quickly turns into a sharp critique of performative allyship, corporate backsliding, and the real reason inclusion still meets resistance in the workplace. Bach doesn’t pull punches. He makes the case that DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about profit, retention, and basic business sense. He explains why some companies never truly committed, how guilt distracts from progress, and what happens when white men are excluded from the inclusion narrative. From George Floyd to corporate walk-backs, this one packs perspective—and a little heat. Timestamps 00:00 — Michael Bach shows up loud and proud at SHRM 01:00 — Why visibility matters when you’re part of the “invisible minority” 02:15 — Inclusion is not seasonal—stop treating Pride like a one-month campaign 03:00 — Measuring DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about business outcomes 04:45 — George Floyd sparked urgency, but companies rushed without real buy-in 06:10 — Why performative support failed and which brands are paying the price 07:30 — Boycotts, corporate reckoning, and the lesson from South Africa 08:40 — You can’t fix the past—but you have to move forward from it 10:00 — The gender pay gap hurts more than fairness—it stunts the economy 11:15 — Business should do better because it’s profitable—not because it’s noble 12:10 — Acronyms confuse people—start with business language instead 13:45 — Inclusion failed when it excluded straight, white, able-bodied men 15:10 — Real DEI includes everyone—even the traditionally overrepresented 16:30 — Why “people heroes” are anyone who intentionally makes work more inclusive 17:45 — The future of inclusion depends on action, not awareness campaigns 18:40 — Final laughs: gym memberships, Palm Springs heat, and Bob Hope myths This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/