Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have become essential considerations in different academic fields in recent years, attracting an increasing number of voices and perspectives from different groups. While recent contributions have shed light on the barriers faced by some groups, the concept of EDI and implementation of solutions are still in their infancy in ecology and evolution. There is a clear lack of an intersectionality framework that is more inclusive of the global diversity of researchers. As researchers in ecology and evolution from the Global South and Global North with different backgrounds, we recognize the need to present a global view of EDI in order to highlight the role of intersectionality where researchers from Global South are not only impeded by discrimination, but also by other cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors that affect their level of training, ultimately reducing their likelihood of reaching leadership positions. We present a simple model of intersectionality that explains the main drivers of the variation in academic success among researchers, and highlight that most of the variation is determined by factors that individuals have no control over (e.g. place of birth, gender, ethnicity). We recommend measures to increase the representation of the global diversity in the field of ecology and evolution in order to collectively solve global societal and environmental issues.