Costco's case study for "speaking out loud on its values"

Even amid growing political pressure around DEI, some companies have continued to stand by their commitments—and defend them publicly. Costco CEO Ron Vachris has defended the retailer’s efforts to create equal opportunities for employees, even as other companies have pulled back. Last year, Costco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal calling on the company to evaluate risks tied to DEI practices, with more than 98% of shares reportedly voting against it. At the Fortune Workplace Summit, Jotaka Eaddy, CEO of Full Circle Strategy—a thought leadership and social impact consulting firm—said holding firm to values is what builds trust, even when stakeholders don’t agree with a company’s position.