Ep 72 - Cultural Roots, Belonging, and the Fear of Change: What’s Next for Inclusion?

Ep #72 with Ritu Bhasin and Jeiz Robles  🎧

At a time when DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts are being challenged in parts of the world, our guests in this episode make a compelling case for why inclusion still matters - and how it must adapt to remain relevant. Through two rich, regionally grounded conversations, this episode explores how DEI is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic investment in building workplaces - and societies - where people can truly thrive. 

Together, the conversations examine: 

• Why DEI work is more than a checkbox - it's a strategic and cultural investment 
• How cultural values in Asia shape a different, often more resilient, approach to inclusion 
• What’s driving the pullback in the U.S. - and how organizations can respond 
• Why belonging is not just a personal goal, but an organizational responsibility 

In our Spotlight segment, Jeiz Robles, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Community Business in Hong Kong, shares how DEI strategies are developed and implemented across Asia. She discusses why support for inclusion remains strong in the region - despite growing backlash in the West - and how communitarian cultural values like collectivism and harmony play a key role in sustaining long-term DEI commitments. Jeiz also reflects on her own advocacy journey and what it means to build inclusive spaces in workplaces that may appear homogenous on the surface. 

In our main segment, Ritu Bhasin, a global DEI expert and founder of bhasin consulting inc., offers a North American perspective. Drawing from her personal experiences as a daughter of Sikh immigrants in Canada and a former lawyer turned leadership coach, Ritu dissects the psychological roots of the backlash: fear, loss of privilege, and the scarcity mindset. She calls for a cultural shift - toward belonging, authenticity, and abundance - and explains how inclusion isn’t just a feel-good goal, but essential to innovation, talent retention, and social progress. Her insights are grounded in her bestselling book, We've Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging. 

The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. 

 🔗 For more details about the authors and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/rr

HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Chapters

• 1:22 Introduction of Jeiz Robles and her DEI leadership role at Community Business
• 2:49 LGBTQ+ advocacy rooted in family planning and workplace ERGs
• 5:28 Moving to Thailand and cultural comparisons in inclusion
• 6:35 Corporate vs. nonprofit DEI work - scope and stakeholder engagement
• 8:17 Global DEI backlash vs. Asia’s momentum - regulation, moral drivers, and legal gaps
• 11:33 Cultural values - collectivism, harmony, and the Asian ethos of inclusion
• 13:36 Challenging the myth of homogeneity in Hong Kong and the region
• 15:57 Practical tools - inclusive language, empathy, and sustained commitment
• 18:02 Ritu Bhasin’s DEI journey - From immigrant upbringing and racism to corporate law and ultimately launching her own global DEI consulting firm
• 26:01 Why equity matters - Understanding how unequal access to mentorship and sponsorship perpetuates workplace inequity
• 34:30 The business case for DEI - Innovation, talent pipelines, profitability, and customer relevance in diverse markets
• 42:38 Backlash and belonging - Fear and scarcity driving DEI resistance; Ritu reframes the issue through the lens of belonging, central to her book "We've Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging"
• 59:59 Self-belonging as strength - Ritu shares how reclaiming her authenticity helped her thrive, and urges listeners to anchor themselves in self-belonging to navigate systems of exclusion