Signal Lack of measurable outcomes (30%) outranks political climate (27%) as a D&I challenge

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 survey asks leaders what makes it hard to advance diversity and inclusion. The most common answer is a lack of measurable outcomes at 30 percent, just ahead of competing priorities at 29 percent. The polarized social and political climate comes third at 27 percent. The ranking suggests that proving results is at least as big a hurdle as external politics. The report therefore recommends giving every priority metrics that track impact, expanding programs that work and dropping those that do not, and communicating carefully on issues open to polarized interpretation.