Leadership and diversity blind spots in organizations: are leaders walking the walk?

Opara, V ORCID: 0000-0002-5148-3204 and Ofori, D.W ORCID: 0009-0009-9418-7016 (2026) 'Leadership and diversity blind spots in organizations: are leaders walking the walk?' Strategy & Leadership. doi: 10.1108/SL-06-2026-0278

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Abstract

Purpose: Research suggests that senior leaders enact diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices through their subjective understanding of what DEI entails. This study investigates whether senior leaders in UK organizations are operating with a DEI blind spot, defined as a lack of awareness, understanding, or experiential knowledge necessary to implement meaningful DEI initiatives and perform meaningful DEI change. Design/methodology/approach: Employing a qualitative, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology, the research explores the practices and perceptions of 25 senior leaders, across a range of sectors including higher education, business, legal, science, information and technology sectors in the UK. The study focuses on how leaders interpret the presence of DEI within their leadership practice, and whether this exposes any DEI blind spots. The research examines whether knowledge gaps i.e. blind spots, persist at senior levels and how these might be experienced by diverse organizational members and what consequences they carry for DEI progress and inclusive organizations. Findings: The findings reveal that leaders with DEI decision making capacity, oftentimes engage with DEI practices through their subjective understanding of it. Therefore, DEI practices and engagement occur most keenly along three realms (1) ideologically, (2) practically, (3) deficiently. We show how leaders move between, (1) “what they know” (2) “what they do” and (3) “what they fail do”. Originality/value: This study contributes to the leadership and DEI literature by offering empirically grounded insights into the barriers to effective DEI leadership and highlighting the need for more robust, systems-based engagement from those in decision making positions.

Item Type:	Article
UN SDGs:	Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Keywords:	DEI, diversity, blind spots, inclusion, leadership, organisations
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Bath Business School
Research Centres and Groups:	Research Centre for Leadership, Ethics and Professional Practice (CLEPP)
Date Deposited:	12 Aug 2026 15:17
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2026 15:25
ISSN:	1087-8572
URN:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/17873

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