Latest news with #Piacenza
The Herald Scotland
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Despite Trump backlash, DEI rollbacks are slowing. Here's why.
The backlash against DEI gained steam during the 2024 presidential election but hit a fever pitch when Trump took office. His early executive orders aimed at eliminating "illegal DEI" in the federal government and the private sector were the single-largest driving force behind the reforms that swept corporate America, Gravity Research found. "President Trump's return to office created a seismic shift in the risk calculus for companies with DEI commitments," said Joanna Piacenza, vice president of thought leadership with Gravity Research, which advises companies on social, political and reputational risks. "Unlike earlier backlash driven by online activists which focused on reputational and social media pressure, Trump's administration brought policy levers and legal authority." Most of the policy shifts - 80% - tracked in Gravity Research's study of Fortune 1000 companies and sports leagues between June 2024 and May 2025 occurred after Trump's inauguration. But the rate slowed significantly following the post-inauguration push, Piacenza said. For example, 11 companies publicly announced in February they would make major changes to diverse hiring targets and workforce and executive representation goals, but only two made those changes in May. "The slowdown appears to reflect a 'wait-and-see' posture from companies," Piacenza said. "With those initial policy adjustments now set in motion, companies appear to be reassessing further changes." Corporations made these DEI changes Corporations that rushed to make changes following the inauguration were those with the most to lose: federal contractors and companies in highly regulated industries. Nearly three-quarters of the corporations that made post-inauguration DEI changes were federal contractors, the study showed. Of the DEI changes corporations made, the most significant was around hiring and representation goals, according to Gravity Research. Corporations also rebranded DEI efforts with more anodyne names such as "inclusion and belonging" and changed the chief diversity officer title to "vice president of talent strategy" or "head of people engagement" after Trump's inauguration. Mentions of "DEI" and related terms also vanished from corporate reports, regulatory filings and websites. Few companies dismantled employee resource groups but emphasized they are open to all employees and are aligned with business priorities such as professional development and networking. "With federal agencies signaling that ERGs could be investigated as discriminatory, this issue may resurface as a reputational risk in the months ahead," the Gravity Research study said. DEI retreat or 'head fake'? The Gravity Research study found that corporations are reframing but not retreating from DEI, with 80% affirming ongoing commitments to "inclusion," "belonging," or "accessibility." Business leaders are gaining confidence from pro-DEI shareholder votes and from the challenges faced by companies that have retreated on DEI, including declining sales, shrinking market caps and struggles attracting and retaining talent, said Carissa Romero, co-founder and managing director of the culture and inclusion platform Paradigm. Guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March also reassured corporations that the Trump administration would not view their strategies as "illegal DEI." Corporations are also facing growing pressure from pro-DEI activists who have mounted a string of boycotts protesting DEI rollbacks. It's unclear how much of an impact these boycotts are having on the bottom line, but Target cited its decision to end some diversity policies as a contributor to a sharp first-quarter pullback in consumer spending. "Most companies know creating diverse workforces, fair processes that advance the best talent and inclusive environments where people who are different from one another can collaborate effectively is essential to long-term business success," Romero said. "These efforts aren't a 'nice to have,' they're strategic levers for innovation, performance and resilience." Corporations could quickly change their tune if the Trump administration ramps up DEI enforcement, Piacenza said. Last week the Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs issued a letter inviting federal contractors to voluntarily disclose what steps they have taken to "wind down" DEI programs. DEI critics like shareholder activist Paul Chesser accuse corporations of ducking Trump administration oversight and "snookering" customers and shareholders by making superficial changes to their policies while maintaining their commitment to diversity programs behind the scenes. Chesser, director of the National Legal and Policy Center's Corporate Integrity Project, calls it "the head fake across corporate America to give the impression - with little or no evidence - that companies are eliminating DEI." "Companies that outside parties perceive as having made only cosmetic changes could face renewed scrutiny," Piacenza said.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Innovative company unveils futuristic train that could reshape rail travel: 'A great achievement'
SITAV, an Italian company traditionally known for servicing trains, just unveiled something that could reshape how we think about rail travel: its first hydrogen-powered locomotive. The sleek, all-Italian prototype debuted at the Hydrogen Expo in Piacenza, marking SITAV's official entry into clean train manufacturing. "A great achievement that brings our company into the galaxy of rolling stock manufacturers," the company said, per Fuel Cells Works. Unlike diesel-powered trains that emit harmful pollution and require costly fuel and maintenance, this new locomotive runs on hydrogen fuel — producing only water vapor. It's designed with efficiency, safety, and flexibility in mind, featuring energy-recovering brakes, low-pressure refueling, remote diagnostics, and a modular layout that allows it to be customized for different rail lines. SITAV has already secured preliminary regulatory approvals and plans to showcase the train again in the fall at Expo Ferroviaria in Milan. Hydrogen-powered rail is gaining momentum around the world. Stadler Rail recently set a world record when one of its hydrogen trains traveled over 1,700 miles without refueling. Meanwhile, Great Western Railway in the United Kingdom is testing fast-charging, battery-powered trains — proof that the industry is moving full steam ahead toward clean energy. This shift could have a huge impact. The transportation sector accounts for over 16% of global carbon emissions, and most rail lines still use diesel. Hydrogen trains could help reduce pollution, noise, and long-term costs for operators — all while improving air quality for nearby communities. Looking to reduce your own travel impact? Cleaner, smarter travel options are becoming more available every day. You can start by choosing low-impact alternatives or making your next car an electric vehicle. Do you think EVs will dominate our roads in 15 years? No way Absolutely yes Only in some areas I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Giorgio Armani to miss Milan Fashion Week for first time
Fashion legend Giorgio Armani will miss his two shows at Milan Fashion Week for the first time in his 90-year-old Italian designer is "currently recovering at home", his company said in a statement. His recovery follows a brief hospital stay in Milan, Italian media had "worked with usual dedication on the collections" and would follow the menswear shows on Saturday and Monday remotely, the company is thought to be the first time that Armani has missed one of his catwalk events, in a career that spans over five decades. Last year he said he could retire in coming years. The shows next week will present the Spring-Summer 2026 collections of his self-titled luxury long-time collaborator and head of menswear design, Leo Dell'Orco, is now set to give the closing bows. Armani is said to be in good spirits and is expected to attend the brand's upcoming shows in Paris at the end of in 1975, the brand celebrates its 50th anniversary next month - as Armani also celebrates his 91st also known as 'Re Giorgio' - King Giorgio - has built an empire in the luxury fashion in the northern Italian town of Piacenza in 1934, he studied medicine before embarking on a career in fashion and eventually launching his label with his late partner, Sergio fashion house has several different lines which have also expanded into haute couture, ready-to-wear fashion, accessories, beauty products and make-up, jewellery, interior design and luxury hotels in cities such as Milan, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai.
