What is MEI: Merit, Excellence & Intelligence ?

What happens when Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence (MEI) replace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in hiring and workplace culture? In this thought-provoking video, Prof. Andreea Gorbatai of Vlerick Business School examines the growing MEI movement, a controversial talent management strategy promoted by Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang.

Born as a backlash to DEI, MEI promises to hire "the best" candidates—regardless of background. But what does that mean in practice? And what are the risks of ignoring systemic barriers and equity-based approaches in the name of so-called meritocracy?

🔍 In this video, you’ll discover:

What MEI (Merit–Excellence–Intelligence) really stands for
Why some HR leaders see it as a backlash against DEI
The flaws in the "equal playing field" assumption
How some companies (like Meta and Amazon) are pivoting away from DEI
How others (like Ben & Jerry’s and the NFL) are standing firm on inclusive values