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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide (Udemy.com)

Practical strategies for developing your company's global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion function

4.2
36,217 reviews

Created by: Ulysses Smith

Last updated January 2026

Our take

Based on the ratings of 36,217 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in January 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.

Ulysses Smith, a DEI strategist who has consulted for tech companies, built this as a short first pass at the subject. It runs about an hour across 19 lectures and six sections. It starts with vocabulary and the business case, moves to habits like spotting bias and listening well, then covers practical steps such as task forces and employee resource groups. It is aimed at individual contributors and managers who want to start something at work, not at people who already do this for a living.

Reviewers mostly like the vocabulary work. Two say the terminology taught them something or gave them a foundation, and others call the sections clear and easy to follow. Of 36,217 ratings, 18,054 are five stars and 13,361 are four. The complaints split two ways. One reviewer finds it too high level and calls the task force section out of place in a beginner course. Others think it runs long for what it says, and one disliked the AI role play. A few low ratings object to the subject or its framing, and one says it does not suit nurses.

The time cost is small. With 79,539 students and an update in January 2026, it is a low-risk way to get the basics down in one sitting. Expect orientation, not depth. Anyone who wants more depth will likely need a second course. For a first look at DEI in the workplace, it is a fair pick.

Best forWorkers and managers who want plain DEI vocabulary and first steps for starting a group at work.
Skip it ifYou already work in DEI or want more depth than a one-hour overview can give.

Pros

  • Clear DEI vocabulary that reviewers say gave them a working foundation
  • Short at about an hour, split into 19 lectures across six sections
  • Covers practical first steps like task forces and employee resource groups
  • Updated in January 2026, with a bonus office hours lecture added

Cons

  • One reviewer found it too high level, with little depth for a beginner course
  • Some say it runs long for the content, and one disliked the AI role play
  • Mixed reception on framing, with some low ratings objecting to the approach
learning the terminology has been extremely helpful in building a foundation for DEI
Deborah Joslin, a student

Beginner level suits workplace newcomers to DEI, but it assumes some grasp of company structure and your own biases.

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What you will learn

  • Define diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
  • Understand the business case for creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
  • Master the skills to champion inclusion such as becoming aware of your biases and active listening
  • Explore common strategies for building a DEI practice, including task forces, Employee Resource Groups, and learning opportunities

Course content

6 sections · 19 lectures · 1.1 hours of video 1 quiz

  1. 1Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner's Guide 1 free preview1 lecture · 2 min
  2. 2The What & Why of DEI 2 free previews5 lectures · 1 quiz · 12 min
  3. 3Behaviors of Champions5 lectures · 14 min
  4. 4Attitudes to Actions 1 free preview6 lectures · 20 min
  5. 5Conclusion1 lecture · 2 min
  6. 6Bonus Lecture: Office Hours 20241 lecture · 13 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Individual contributors and managers interested in getting diversity initiatives started in their organization
  • Aspiring diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioners
  • People curious to find out some simple first steps to building a DEI function
  • This course is not designed for individuals or high level executives who already have a deep understanding of DEI

What you need before you start

  • You should have some foundational knowledge of your organization's structure and how to navigate your company to implement actions covered in the course
  • You should have a cursory understanding of the differences between people and the ability to acknowledge that inequalities exist
  • You should have a cursory understanding of your own biases

How it compares

Against the other 170 rated Udemy courses in Human Resources on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.2 out of 5higher than 16% of them
  • Reviews36,217#1 of 171 by number of reviews
  • Length1.1 hoursshorter than 75% of them
  • Last updatedJanuary 2026more recently than 57% of them

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Course Description

If you are just beginning to explore the diversity, equity and inclusion space and are interested in sharpening your understanding of the practice, then we’ve designed a course just for you. Over the last few decades, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become a priority for organizations. From the annual release of diversity reports to the creation of executive positions to lead these efforts, organizations have undertaken a number of actions to bolster their profiles in this area. But how do you help start these efforts in your organization, especially if you are an individual contributor?

If you are looking to start grassroots diversity and inclusion initiatives in your organization, or you are just curious about some of the best strategies for getting started, then the material we’ve assembled for you is the perfect place to start. You do not need to be an expert to begin exploring some of the foundational elements of DEI. In this course, we’ll cover:

  • Building a new vocabulary around diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Quantifying the impact of DEI on the business

  • Exploring social identity and its impact on our interactions

  • Heightening awareness of missed perspectives and biases

  • Listening actively and empathetically

  • Launching diversity task forces and committees

  • Establishing employee resource groups

  • Designing brave learning spaces

In my work as a DEI strategist and consultant, I have seen first-hand the impact that the strategies I present in this course can have on a company’s culture of inclusion and belonging. This work can be challenging, but the outcome is incredibly rewarding. Let’s get started today!
Read More Beginner Beginner Level product length iconTime: 1.1h

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Instructor Details

Ulysses Smith

Ulysses J. Smith is a diversity, equity and inclusion strategist with extensive experience creating high-impact inclusion strategies in the tech industry and higher education. Much of his career centers on participatory governance structures and creating access to institutions and decision-making processes for underserved and underrepresented groups.

Through his private firm, Archetype, he has consulted with organizations throughout New York State and the San Francisco Bay Area including Airbnb, Gusto, Genentech, Electronic Arts, and the NYC Human Resources Administration. He is the Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader at Blend, the digital mortgage technology provider, where he focuses on creating and implementing a global workforce DEI strategy for the high-growth organization. Prior to Blend, he served as the Head of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity for Mixpanel, a San Francisco-based user analytics startup. Smith previously served in various leadership roles at Cornell University—including Lead Diversity & Inclusion Strategist and Director for Special Projects, Innovation & Strategic Engagement—overseeing the institution’s diversity strategy and focusing on innovative engagement of the changing workforce. Smith is a graduate of Cornell University, earning concurrent degrees in both Urban & Regional Studies and Government.

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Reviews

4.2

36,217 ratings on Udemy

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By Ann Delduca on 7/17/2026

I really appreciate this wonderful teaching and would love to see it applied to implement wholistic care in acute care settings for patients and staff so that spiritual care is recognized as life changing, necessary, and welcome! I envision that spiritual care look like regular corporate worship gatherings in our hospital chapel or a designated area before or after regular shift times to express gratitude and our praise to the LORD. I also would love to encourage Bible reading challenges for staff in which Sacred Scriptures are read with intent for Biblical Wisdom, Eternal Life, and Righteousness. I would also very much appreciate being welcome to celebrate Christmas and express Christmas greetings and Easter or Resurrection Sunday greetings without censorship and condemnation!

By Valisa GRAMMER on 6/12/2026

Very informative, Course Content broken down into Sections which made it very easy to understand. Thank you.

By Lennette Obusek on 5/1/2026

The course was knowledgeable. Throughout the sessions i picked up a few pointers her and there that would be helpful in my work place..

By Stacie Ward on 4/27/2026

Why are we still learning about DEI? The most qualified person for the job should be put into the position regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity

By Anonymized User on 4/23/2026

This link from Section 3 leads to 404 (error): https://uucsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Complexity-of-Identity.pdf

By Joyce BORDOGNA on 4/21/2026

The course content was very interesting. Some items I was familiar with and others I learned new information

By Kristen Green on 3/25/2026

It’s been helpful in sharpening how I think about language and intent. It reinforced that diversity is about the collective, not individuals, and that being precise in how we communicate helps build trust and avoid unintended bias. Overall, it’s given me a more thoughtful and practical lens for how to approach recruiting and team conversations.

By Julia Mueller on 3/11/2026

While it is a beginner's guide, it was too high level for me and I expected a bit more depth at least. The taskforce section felt forced and out of place in a beginner's guide as well.

By Ma. Bella S. Fajardo on 2/16/2026

This course is very informative. I have learned a lot about DEI. The resource speaker has the expertise in DEI. Thank you for the chance to learn about DEI.

By Lauren Richardson on 1/26/2026

This was a great starting place for understanding the DEI landscape, what to think about, what works, and what doesn't.

By Augustine Ibekwe on 11/22/2020

Very interesting and educative.

By Laurie on 11/22/2020

Excellent!!! Thank you! Very well organized and informative presentation.

Showing 12 of 294 reviews

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Overall Score : 84 / 100

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide
Visit course on Udemy Write a review
  • Video Duration: icon 1.1h
  • Price: $19.99
  • Provider: icon Udemy
  • Updated: icon January 2026
  • Level: Beginner Beginner
  • Language: icon English
  • Certificate: icon Yes
  • Lectures:19 in 6 sections
  • Practice:1 quiz
  • Students:79,500
  • Subtitles:13 languages
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