Mastercard Stakeholders Reject Anti-DEI Proposal

The latest group of shareholders to reject anti-DEI proposals are those of Mastercard, a global leader in payment technology that operates in more than 200 countries and territories.

The company’s mission is to build a resilient economy where everyone can prosper, leveraging technology, partnerships and innovation to make transactions secure, simple and accessible.

On June 24, 2025, Mastercard’s annual meeting concluded with a decisive message: stakeholders voted to reject an anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) proposal put forward by conservative shareholder activist group the National Center for Public Policy Research.

Mastercard’s Board wrote: "Mastercard’s culture of community and belonging ensures all our colleagues have the opportunity to reach their full potential: To attract, develop, engage and retain high caliber people, we invest in our employees and focus on building a workplace and culture that drives innovation, embraces diverse perspectives, encourages collaboration, fosters well-being, and enables growth and opportunity."

This result aligns with a broader trend across corporate America, where shareholders of companies including Apple, Walmart, Netflix, Coca-Cola and Levi’s have overwhelmingly stood behind DEI initiatives despite mounting political and legal scrutiny.

The DEI landscape in 2025

The corporate DEI landscape in 2025 is marked by both challenge and transformation. While some leading companies – including Verizon, McDonald’s, Bank of America and BlackRock – have scaled back DEI initiatives due to economic pressures, legal uncertainties, and political shifts, others have doubled down, integrating diversity and inclusion into core business strategies.

Shareholder sentiment remains clear – at major US companies, anti-DEI proposals have been rejected by margins as high as 98% to 99%, signaling that investors view inclusion as essential to long-term business resilience and growth.

Current trends highlight a shift from siloed DEI programmes to embedding inclusion within broader business agendas, such as ESG frameworks and human resources functions. 

Companies are also prioritising accessibility, disability inclusion and neurodiversity, recognising that these efforts drive innovation and productivity.

Mastercard’s DEI policies and vision

“We strive to ensure everyone has access to opportunity and each person feels heard and valued,” says Randall Tucker, Chief Community and Belonging Officer, Mastercard.

“When we engage with and in our communities and create spaces where everyone belongs, we’re better as a company and as a business.”

Mastercard’s DEI initiatives include:

• Accessibility and disability inclusion: Mastercard has launched products like the Touch Card to enhance security and independence for people who are blind or have low vision, and is actively raising awareness of hidden disabilities.
• Global inclusion: The company’s DEI policies extend across its global workforce, promoting intersectional gender initiatives and inclusive leadership at all levels. The copmany's True Name offering allows users to put their chosen name on their card.
• Transparency and accountability: Mastercard emphasises clear communication of DEI goals and progress, embedding accountability for inclusion across departments and leadership.

Mastercard’s sustainability strategy

Alongside DEI, Mastercard's 2025 Future of Sustainability report underscores a shift in business attitudes – environmental sustainability is now viewed as a core imperative, not an add-on. 

The company’s approach is structured around three pillars – prioritise, educate and act – reflecting a commitment to embed sustainability into every aspect of its operations.

Key elements of Mastercard’s sustainability strategy include:

• Net zero commitment: Mastercard is working towards a net zero by 2040 goal and has operated on 100% renewable energy since 2017.
• Scope 3 emissions: Recognising that supply chain emissions account for 78% of its total footprint, Mastercard is actively engaging its suppliers to disclose, manage and reduce their emissions through education, science-based targets and collaborative projects.
• Circular economy and waste reduction: The company aims for zero waste at all owned facilities and has already diverted more than 85% of waste from landfill, with 100% of e-waste responsibly recycled.
• Forest restoration: Through the Priceless Planet Coalition, Mastercard has funded the restoration of more than 12 million trees globally, with the goal of restoring 100 million trees by 2025.

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