A growing number of companies are moving away from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in favour of a new approach called Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence (MEI).

This emerging strategy prioritises hiring based on qualifications alone, without considering demographic factors.

MEI, introduced by Alexandr Wang, co-founder and CEO of Scale AI, focuses on meritocracy, excellence, and intelligence in recruitment.

Wang believes this approach leads to better hiring outcomes, allowing companies to find the most capable individuals for each position.

The key principles of MEI include meritocracy, striving for excellence, and prioritising intelligence and problem-solving skills.

DEI consultants have expressed concerns that MEI may lead to a lack of diversity, as people tend to gravitate towards candidates who resemble themselves.

However, prominent executives like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire are embracing MEI, citing frustrations with DEI initiatives and a lack of experienced leaders to drive efforts.

As the debate around hiring practices continues, one thing is clear: the way companies approach recruitment is changing.

Whether MEI will become the new standard remains to be seen, but its emphasis on merit and excellence is certainly sparking conversation.