While figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk have criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Elise Smith, CEO and co-founder of Praxis Labs, views navigating cultural differences as crucial for multinational businesses. Smith, 34, emphasizes that DEI’s core value—driving business success—will endure. She highlights the challenge faced by Fortune 500 companies: effectively serving diverse clients and fostering productive, diverse teams.
Praxis Labs develops AI and VR tools to enhance workplace communication and interaction. These tools, surpassing traditional diversity training videos, offer modules focused on feedback delivery, addressing bias, and improving questioning techniques. Users engage with a generative AI chatbot simulating challenging work scenarios, providing tailored guidance on handling situations with cultural sensitivity. Currently focused on specific scenarios, Smith anticipates an “always-on” upgrade this year for broader workplace advice.
Smith draws a parallel between learning critical human skills and athletic training: “You can’t play basketball by just watching a video in theory about passing and shooting—you have to do it,” she explains, highlighting the need for experiential learning.
Smith’s experience at IBM’s Watson Group, applying AI to education, and witnessing colleagues struggle in systems not designed for them, inspired her 2018 co-founding of Praxis with Heather Shen (a 2025 TIME100 Next honoree). Praxis, with $23 million in venture capital and a team of 15, serves clients including Uber, Amazon, and Accenture, aiming to improve employee engagement, retention, and global business relationships.
Smith believes that in an era of increasingly powerful AI for mechanical tasks, soft skills—communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution—are paramount. She stresses the need for genuine connection beyond transactional relationships, emphasizing collaboration across differences to achieve beneficial outcomes for all.
