The 67th Annual Grammy Awards

Beyoncé’s exceptional achievements at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she became the first Black woman to win Album of the Year this century and the first ever to win Best Country Album, highlight her remarkable talent. She didn’t seek permission or campaign for inclusion; she created a masterpiece that demanded recognition.

This exemplifies a new model for economic empowerment.

The focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has often centered on corporate programs and policies, but this approach has faced challenges, leading some companies to scale back their commitments. However, exceptional success is far more impactful.

Therefore, I propose “Inclusive Economics”—a framework enabling full economic participation, wealth building, and essential contributions from Black and Brown communities, making inclusion indispensable. Beyoncé’s success demonstrates that winning is the most effective form of activism.

The Power of Economic Excellence

Understanding Inclusive Economics requires acknowledging the economic realities faced by Black Americans. Despite significant buying power, Black households have substantially less wealth than White households. While Black entrepreneurs start businesses at a higher rate, they receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital funding.

Imagine the economic growth that would result from focusing on substantial economic influence instead of DEI checklists. Reducing the Black homeownership gap would stimulate growth through increased home purchases and renovations. Increased access to capital for Black businesses could significantly boost U.S. GDP.

This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about economic strategy. America cannot afford to ignore this potential for growth.

Beyoncé’s win underscores that excellence is our greatest asset. In any field, mastery and dominance create an undeniable impact.

A Shift From Representation to Ownership

DEI programs aimed to create opportunities, but a new approach is needed in light of reduced corporate commitments—one that doesn’t depend on institutional approval.

This requires shifting from representation to ownership in business, real estate, and intellectual property. Building economic gateways—access to capital, supply chains, and customers—is crucial for Black and Brown entrepreneurs. Dominating emerging industries like AI and automation will ensure they are builders, not just users. Finally, we should leverage cultural power to build financial infrastructure, including Black banks and investment firms.

Beyoncé’s country music win transcends mere diversity; it’s a lesson in economic strategy. She created her own opportunities and leveraged her influence to transform a genre. This is the approach every entrepreneur should adopt.

Inclusive Economics is The Future

Diversity and representation remain vital. However, the best response to those who undermine DEI is economic excellence—making our contributions so essential that exclusion becomes detrimental.

Inclusive Economics means more successful Black and Brown individuals in various sectors, building lasting wealth instead of relying solely on systemic change, and corporations recognizing that investing in these communities is economically beneficial, not merely a social responsibility.

Economic access has historically been uneven. We must change this, not through requests, but through ownership.

Beyoncé’s Grammy win is a powerful example of what happens when we strive for excellence. We must apply this mindset across all sectors.

This is the true solution to the challenges facing DEI.