WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:01.720 What I've learned in the past year 2 00:00:01.720 --> 00:00:04.100 that will inform how we make meaningful progress 3 00:00:04.100 --> 00:00:08.130 on DE&I this year is that DE&I is deeply personal, 4 00:00:08.130 --> 00:00:09.758 and each of us has a responsibility 5 00:00:09.758 --> 00:00:12.860 to support one another and to continue 6 00:00:12.860 --> 00:00:16.470 to develop and educate ourselves around the issues. 7 00:00:16.470 --> 00:00:19.399 No one is immune, myself included. 8 00:00:19.399 --> 00:00:22.860 Even if I've spent years leading our DE&I efforts 9 00:00:22.860 --> 00:00:24.333 and researching the topic. 10 00:00:25.590 --> 00:00:29.620 In the last year, my teams have faced enormous challenges, 11 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:32.760 including juggling childcare during the pandemic 12 00:00:32.760 --> 00:00:35.750 while still delivering on work expectations. 13 00:00:35.750 --> 00:00:38.470 Or dealing with mental health and personal stress 14 00:00:38.470 --> 00:00:40.060 at levels that are debilitating, 15 00:00:40.940 --> 00:00:44.558 and police assaults in their local communities. 16 00:00:44.558 --> 00:00:47.480 Each situation required first listening 17 00:00:47.480 --> 00:00:49.788 and understanding and having empathy 18 00:00:49.788 --> 00:00:54.559 and then, needing to prioritize what we took on at work, 19 00:00:54.559 --> 00:00:57.733 where and when we should extend timelines. 20 00:00:58.690 --> 00:01:01.300 In one case, supporting flex-work models 21 00:01:01.300 --> 00:01:04.110 and in another an individual to take a leave of absence 22 00:01:04.110 --> 00:01:07.770 versus resigning and disengaging completely. 23 00:01:07.770 --> 00:01:09.640 To support long-term inclusion, 24 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:11.870 we need to be aware of and sensitive to 25 00:01:11.870 --> 00:01:15.316 the work and non-work challenges we all face. 26 00:01:15.316 --> 00:01:17.480 The pandemic challenges will be with us 27 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:19.760 long after we're vaccinated. 28 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.228 Systematic racism won't be dismantled overnight. 29 00:01:23.228 --> 00:01:26.550 And so I continue to educate myself. 30 00:01:26.550 --> 00:01:28.820 For example, I led and participated 31 00:01:28.820 --> 00:01:30.990 in our learning groups on racism 32 00:01:30.990 --> 00:01:32.857 and audited an online college course 33 00:01:32.857 --> 00:01:35.130 on Black American history 34 00:01:35.130 --> 00:01:37.563 from before the US Civil War to today, 35 00:01:38.430 --> 00:01:41.550 listening and learning to fully understand the challenges 36 00:01:41.550 --> 00:01:43.977 and identify the ways that I could create 37 00:01:43.977 --> 00:01:46.558 a more inclusive work environment for my teams. 38 00:01:46.558 --> 00:01:48.892 Now is the moment to lend an ear 39 00:01:50.404 --> 00:01:53.108 and continually educate ourselves, 40 00:01:53.108 --> 00:01:58.108 a time to stay engaged, lend a hand, and flex our support.