Disney goes all in on ‘belonging’ with a new employee event series following its DEI shake-up

• Disney is kicking off its inaugural “Global Belonging Week” on Monday.
• The event itinerary references “belonging” and “inclusion” without referencing “diversity,” “equity,” or the phrase “DEI.”
• It fits with a broader trend of companies scaling back their DEI language.

Disney is about to showcase its new approach to DEI with a week of events focused on “belonging.”

The Mouse House is having its first-ever “Global Belonging Week” for employees, which will run from October 20 to 24 and include a series of voluntary livestream talks “designed to empower and inspire,” according to an email recently sent to employees.

Starting Monday, Disney staffers can tune in to keynotes designed “to celebrate our rich culture, spark engagement, and empower each of us to do our best every day,” according to the email, which was viewed by Business Insider.

The week of events follows a broader shake-up Disney made to its DEI initiatives earlier this year, including shuttering “Reimagine Tomorrow,” a digital hub launched in 2021 to share stories from underrepresented voices.

Disney’s “Global Belonging Week” itinerary references “belonging” and “inclusion” without mentioning “diversity,” “equity,” or the phrase “DEI,” which has come under severe political scrutiny during President Donald Trump’s second term.

The word choice is a sign of the times, said Mita Mallick, a workplace strategist and the author of “Reimagine Inclusion.” It fits into a broader trend of companies emphasizing words like “belonging” and “culture” that are seen as less political than the phrase “DEI,” she said.

“Out of all the words, ‘diversity’ and ‘equity’ are words that people are staying away from,” Mallick said.

Disney didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.

Use of DEI language has fallen

In the early 2020s, it was fashionable for companies to announce and invest in DEI programs. Now, DEI efforts can be a political liability and even an obstacle for corporate mergers, as David Ellison found out when merging Skydance with Paramount.

The use of DEI-related language is down 72% year-over-year in 2025, including a 98% drop in the phrase “DEI,” according to a May report from Gravity Research, which analyzed 1,378 public documents from Fortune 100 companies from January 2023 and May 2025.

Similar words and phrases, such as “belonging” and “diverse perspectives,” were down 34% this year after rising 20% in 2024, according to Gravity Research. A separate study from The Conference Board published in August said that 53% of the S&P 100 had changed their DEI messaging in 2025.

“It’s the reality of doing business,” Mallick said.

One Disney employee in the advertising division said they felt the company’s DEI changes were “performative.”

Disney’s events include the “art of belonging” in relation to hit movies like “Moana,” set in Polynesia, and “Encanto,” which takes place in Colombia.

There’s also an on-demand session titled: “Belong & Thrive: The Joy of Intersectionality, Allyship & Inclusion.”

Read the “Global Belonging Week” email to Disney employees below:

You’re Invited: Global Belonging Week

Details for Disney’s inaugural Global Belonging Week, October 20—24, 2025, are here! Join us for this employee-exclusive, virtual and in-person experience.

Employees around the world are invited to join planned experiences focused on ways to increase your belonging and opportunities to thrive. We know that when employees feel a sense of belonging, they thrive, and so does the magic of Disney!

This voluntary week of events is designed to celebrate our rich culture, spark engagement, and empower each of us to do our best every day. Throughout the week, you’ll get:

• Insight from keynote speakers designed to empower and inspire you
• Engaging learning experiences that foster a deeper understanding of the core value of inclusion and the power of belonging
• Opportunities to network and create meaningful connections with colleagues, as well as volunteer opportunities with Disney VoluntEARS

No registration required. Visit the page below to learn about each event and to save them to your calendars.

This is an employee-only event.

And here’s Disney’s “Global Belonging Week” itinerary:

Monday, October 20, 2025

• Opening Keynote and Kickoff

  • 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM PDT / 4:00 PM — 5:00 PM EDT

    • Arda Ocal: Host, ESPN
    • Jill Estorino: President & Managing Director, Disney Parks International
    • Rita Ferro: President, Global Disney Advertising
    • Joe Earley: President, Direct-to-Consumer, Disney Entertainment
    • Renato D’Angelo: General Manager Brazil & Head of Marketing Out-of-Home LATAM for The Walt Disney Company
    • Tinisha Agramonte: SVP and Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer, The Walt Disney Company
    • Sonia Coleman: Senior Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, The Walt Disney Company

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

• Belonging and Thriving: Journeys from Humble Beginnings to First Generation Corporate Professionals

  • 9:00 AM — 10:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM EDT

    • Tinisha Agramonte: Moderator, SVP and Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer, The Walt Disney Company
    • Sonia Coleman: Senior Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, The Walt Disney Company
    • Robert Thompson: Chief Operating Officer, Partners Federal Credit Union

• Art of Belonging: Moana

  • 1:00 PM — 1:30 PM PDT / 4:00 PM — 4:30 PM EDT

  • Livestream Details

    • Please return to this event page to view the live event.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

• Telling Stories That Resonate: The Global Impact of Lilo & Stitch

  • 9:00 AM — 10:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM EDT

    • Anastasia Ali: Moderator, Vice President, Inclusive Marketing & Audience Growth, The Walt Disney Company
    • Maddie Woods: Director, Digital Marketing, The Walt Disney Studios
    • Megan Denman: Director, Production, The Walt Disney Studios

Thursday, October 23, 2025

• Cultivating a Culture of Belonging through Interpersonal Connections with Patrice Borders

  • 9:00 AM — 10:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM EDT

  • Livestream Details

    • Please return to this event page to view the live event.

• Art of Belonging: Encanto

  • 1:00 PM — 1:30 PM PDT / 4:00 PM — 4:30 PM EDT

  • Livestream Details

    • Please return to this event page to view the live event.

Friday, October 24, 2025

• Global Belonging Week Closing

  • 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM PDT / 4:00 PM — 5:00 PM EDT

    • Keynote Speaker

      • Juju Chang: Co-anchor, ABC News’ “Nightline”

On Demand

• Cross Cultural Connections: Where Belonging Begins

  • On Demand

    • Please return to this during Global Belonging Week to watch the video.

• Belong & Thrive: The Joy of Intersectionality, Allyship & Inclusion

  • On Demand

    • Please return to this page during Global Belonging Week to watch the video.

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