Pathways to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The Role of Organizational Learning in Enhancing Racial Minority Leadership

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives often struggle to achieve lasting impact. This study explores how organizational learning through policy tourism influences inclusive business development and workforce diversity across U.S. cities. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods research design, this study first employs qualitative content analysis to classify DEI learning into four types based on learning depth and focus. It then applies a ridge-augmented synthetic control method to examine their distinct effects on racial minority representation in city business leadership. This study advances understanding of organizational learning theoretically and analytically. It also provides practical insights for promoting inclusive economic growth.