Part 6/11:
As these problematic statements surfaced, there was a conspicuous effort within the industry and allied consultancy companies to suppress dissenting voices. Mark Kern, a well-known industry veteran and outspoken critic of these trends, became a target of coordinated attempts to blacklist and deplatform him.
Organizations like Naga and Dei Consultancy, which tout their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), have been accused of harboring their own biases. Their publicly stated goals—driving impact through strategic marketing, talent recruitment, and partnership—are now viewed skeptically as efforts to shield industry insiders from scrutiny and to silence critics like Kern.