Nadia and Rob welcome Brandon Sammut and Maggie Roque of AI-orchestration platform Zapier to talk about the practical skills learned from DEI (what Zapier calls 'DIBE') that translate to AI transformation, why all transformations are about leaders, talent & culture, and the underrated role consistency plays in building organizational trust. The team also reviews the EEOC's escalation against Nike's DEI efforts and a California lawsuit against HR hiring platform Eightfold.ai. Later, Pete Hegseth threatens Cub Scout funding and Nadia reflects on Bad Bunny's halftime glory.

Story 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/business/eeoc-nike-white-employee-discrimination.html

Story 2: https://hrexecutive.com/eightfold-ai-bias-suit-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/?oly_enc_id=6122G2643790C2Z

Connect with Brandon Sammut: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-sammut-8147b76/

Connect with us: Visit www.nazconsultants.com to learn more about Dr. Nadia Butt’s work in leadership, culture, and organizational effectiveness, and check out http://www.tekanoconsulting.com/ to explore Rob Hadley’s approach to data-driven inclusive strategy.

Send us your thoughts or topic ideas at inclusivecollectivepodcast@gmail.com

Follow Inclusive Collective

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/inclusivecollective/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inclusivecollectivepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusivecollectivepodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InclusiveCollective/

Connect with Nadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadianazbutt/

Connect with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hadley-utah/

Nadia and Rob welcome investor, advisor, and founder Sofia Haq to talk about the responsibilities of speaking out as a leader, building great companies, and how she sustains herself while running several ventures. But first, they check in on Amazon's poor communication in their latest round of layoffs and how Minnesota CEOs responded to the killing of Alex Preeti. Later, Rob rants about a terrible Anthropology department and Nadia applauds Walmart's unsolicited pay raises for pharmacy techs.

Connect with us: Visit www.nazconsultants.com to learn more about Dr. Nadia Butt’s work in leadership, culture, and organizational effectiveness, and check out http://www.tekanoconsulting.com/ to explore Rob Hadley’s approach to data-driven inclusive strategy.

Send us your thoughts or topic ideas at inclusivecollectivepodcast@gmail.com

Connect with Sofia:

https://www.instagram.com/sofia__haq/

https://www.tiktok.com/@sofiahaq

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiahaq/

https://sofiahaq.com/

https://www.muslimwomenprofessionals.org/

https://slauson.co/

Follow Inclusive Collective

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/inclusivecollective/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inclusivecollectivepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusivecollectivepodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InclusiveCollective/

Connect with Nadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadianazbutt/

Connect with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hadley-utah/

This week, Nadia hosts solo while Rob is away, revisiting a powerful interview she and Rob recorded with Paolo Gaudiano. The conversation explores why equity and meritocracy are not opposites, but incomplete views of the same system and how leaders can move beyond ideology to design fair, high-performing organizations. Stick around as Nadia also shares a personal surprise at the end of the episode.

Find season 5 episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bP3N6QYBG0UkzdRm5GwiFfoQLvGtIRrK?usp=sharing

Connect with Paolo:

https://aleria.tech

https://linkedin.com/in/pgaudiano

Measuring Inclusion: https://amazon.com/dp/178860606X

Meritocracy (due out 6/9/26): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788609433

Paolo's TED speaker page: https://ted.com/speakers/paolo_gaudiano

Connect with us: Visit www.nazconsultants.com to learn more about Dr. Nadia Butt’s work in leadership, culture, and organizational effectiveness, and check out http://www.tekanoconsulting.com/ to explore Rob Hadley’s approach to data-driven inclusive strategy.

Send us your thoughts or topic ideas at inclusivecollectivepodcast@gmail.com

Follow Inclusive Collective

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/inclusivecollective/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inclusivecollectivepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusivecollectivepodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InclusiveCollective/

Connect with Nadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadianazbutt/

Connect with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hadley-utah/