Marriott Employees Back CEO After He Publicly Stood Firm On DEI Efforts
Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, stood firm on its DEI initiatives, and his employees couldn’t be more grateful. During an interview at the Great Place to Work for All Summit in Las Vegas, Capuano discussed the new unpredictability surrounding DEI policies following President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Although Marriott leaders have publicly stated that they aspire to be leaders in the DEI space, Trump’s executive orders and policies against these initiatives have caused uncertainty regarding their plans, according to Fortune.
Marriott CEO’s stance on DEI
During the summit, Capuano faced constant questions from stakeholders who were keen to understand his stance on DEI moving forward. Capuano drew inspiration from his conversations with his mentor, Bill Marriott, and decided to speak out.
“The winds blow, but there are some fundamental truths for those 98 years,” he said. “We welcome all to our hotels and we create opportunities for all—and fundamentally those will never change. The words might change, but that’s who we are as a company.”
The CEO went back to his hotel that evening and wondered if he had made the right decision to speak out during a time of political uncertainty.
CEOs sharing similar values with their employees
Capuano’s comment created quite an impression on his employees. “Within 24 hours, I had 40,000 emails from Marriott associates around the world, saying ‘thank you,’” he said. Several employees thanked him for upholding the company’s commitment to DEI, describing it as a reflection of their own values. This highlights the importance of CEOs sharing similar values with their employees.
Image: Bryan Wroten
