Talent: Our Greatest Resource

“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” – Mexican Proverb

Dr. Robin Martin

As a CEO, former Division I Women’s Basketball coach, executive coach, recruiter, and business strategist, I’ve spent a lifetime identifying, cultivating, and elevating talent. I know what it looks like. I know what it takes to nurture it. And I know what it feels like to watch it be discarded.

Lately, I’ve witnessed something deeply troubling: the abrupt dismissal of incredibly qualified professionals—experts with years of experience, advanced degrees, and proven track records—pushed out in the name of “corporate restructuring” or DEI.

On the surface, we’ve seen layoffs and budget cuts—the normal cycles of capitalism. But if you look closely, there’s something more insidious happening. A political and cultural backlash is gaining ground—a quiet war against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), cloaked in rhetoric that seeks to erase decades of progress and silence those fighting for equity and fairness in the workplace.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a DEI rollback. It’s erasure. It’s anti-Blackness. It’s anti-truth. And while the latest victims were DEI practitioners, educators, and equity officers—many of whom are Black and Brown—it’s coming for all of us. White, Black, Asian, Latino, LGBTQIA+, disabled, immigrant, or working-class—it’s coming for anyone who dares to advocate for equity, for innovation, for humanity in the workplace.

And yet, within this painful moment lies an opportunity.

As I continue to coach professionals who’ve been forced out—people who were literally hired to build stronger, more equitable, more innovative workplaces—I’m seeing something else: resilience. Creativity. Hunger. These are not the “unqualified hires” right-wing pundits rant about. These are powerhouse leaders, strategic thinkers, and systems builders. These are people who know how to build culture, foster innovation, drive performance, and co-create with integrity. And now, they’re in the open market, ready to work.

So here’s the call:

If you’re a small business owner, a founder, a CEO of a growing startup, an innovator, or an executive looking to scale—this is your moment. This is your opportunity to tap into the deepest well of untapped talent in recent history. You've been asking:

• How do I find great people?

• How do I grow my business without compromising my values?

• How do I build a team that reflects the future of leadership, not the past?

The answer is right in front of you. The very people being pushed out of traditional institutions are the ones best positioned to help you lead differently—and better.

We cannot allow racism, greed, and fear to make us turn our backs on the working class—on the actual doers, on the leaders who have always held things together from the margins. The people who have had to be twice as good to get half as far are not just worthy of a second look—they are your secret weapon.

Now is the time to reimagine what talent looks like.

This is not about “ticking a box.” This is about truly challenging the status quo with individuals who are the engines for innovation and our long-term success.

The current system just threw its biggest punch. Now is our time to punch back.

If you’re building a business, don’t miss this moment. Partner with those individuals whom this system has discarded. Hire the overlooked. Co-create with courage.

Because let’s face it: the future of work is about the people we choose to build with next.

#navigatecourage