Inclusion powers prosperity for all

Earlier this month, I had the honor of representing Intuit at the Pride Circle RISE event in Bangalore and sharing my cognizance for a subject that is very close to my heart – why inclusion matters. At the event, powerful stories from writer, Devdutt Pattanaik and the champions within the LGBTI community like Manvendra Singh Gohil, the world’s first openly gay prince, were a window to the daily discrimination, that the community still faces. It was inspiring to see, those with privileges were using their voice to open doors for the unheard, no matter what the cost.

Last month, India celebrated the World Pride Parade - months after the government of India decriminalized section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, marking a poignant shift for the LGBTI community. While the judgment started a much-needed dialogue on equality, our job as a society is far from done. Homosexuality is still considered a crime in 73 countries, sometimes punishable by death. Discrimination costs the Indian economy as much as $30.8 billion according to a World Bank report and that is not the only price we pay for prejudice.

Studies, research, and surveys have continuously shown that diverse organizations are better at attracting and retaining top talent and winning critical consumer segments. Therefore, proving that diversity is a multiplier.

The good news is that, within the corporate sector, there is a growing commitment to become a wheel of change. At the Pride Circle event, Intuit had the opportunity to join leading organizations for India’s first LGBTI job fair where more than 300 LGBTI candidates were provided with a safe space to interact with prospective employers. Our startup ecosystem program, Intuit Circles, also sponsored the Pride Circle Marketplace, where 20 startups owned by the LGBTI community members showcased their products and participated in a financial literacy workshop. I was won over by their passion for their dreams and their strong sense of individuality. Every business deserves a shot at success, and I am glad Intuit Circles is committed to powering prosperity for all.

It is also true that organizations are sometimes unequipped to deal with the legalities, the emotional strain as well as the definition of the gender incongruence. Although an eclectic set of policies makes inclusion possible, the larger concern should be the elimination of the feeling of inequity, which cannot be removed overnight.

A first step is harmoniously designed policies by the people, with the people - not just affecting those in need but in the process educating those who are distant from the concerns of the LGBTI community. That will help us start bridging the lacuna between ‘they’, ‘them’ and ‘us’. But policies alone are not enough. To achieve inclusion, we need to humanize the conversation. We need reflections, a conscious effort to speak the language of respect and an equal amount of tenacity to open the discourse of equality, to nurture every individual’s skillsets. Grassroots efforts like Intuit’s Pride Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied employees that play an important role in sensitizing employees and creating an enabling environment where every employee feels valued, are a step in this direction. At Intuit, we encourage our employees to bring their whole selves to work, because we truly believe inclusion benefits all.

While growing up in Thailand, my father sponsored the education of a member of the LGBTI community. Today, it makes me immensely happy to see them leading a full and happy life. I witnessed my collegemate, make a life-altering decision of transition, going through daily trials and tribulations and finally affirming her position within the society. These collective experiences and reflections helped me appreciate why everyone deserves a fair chance to grow, work and learn to their full potential.

I’ll leave you with a thought from Max de Pree: “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”

Inclusion matters and it can truly help power prosperity around the world.