Life's most important lesson learned at a young age

June is Pride Month. Before the month ends, I wanted to speak about why celebrating diversity and inclusion is so important to me. You may be wondering, what does a white male CEO from West Virginia have to say about diversity? I asked myself the same question fifteen years ago when I was invited to be one of the founding members of Intuit’s diversity council, and I continue to ask it as we face new challenges as a society. 

The conclusion I reach remains unchanged. First and foremost, no matter who we are on the outside, each of us has something unique on the inside that makes us diverse. Second, as the scientists involved in the Human Genome Project concluded, 99.8% of all DNA in humans is identical, but we seem to live in a world where we focus on the .2% that makes us different. In my life and as CEO, I have learned first-hand that harnessing the power of diversity while focusing on inclusion makes us stronger.  

I often use the metaphor of an iceberg when discussing this topic. There are certain aspects in all of us that can be seen above the surface, but our true power and most of who we are is below the surface. We can often see attributes like race and gender, or if you’ve ever heard me speak, there’s no denying my West Virginian accent. Yet, the true power of who we are and what we're capable of being is often that which can't be seen – our life experiences, our sexual orientation, our religious beliefs. When we tap what’s beneath the surface and make it explicit, no longer trying to filter or hide our authentic selves, we begin to harness the true power of diversity.

On the surface I am a white male business leader. Go beneath the surface and you’ll learn some things that might surprise you. Like the fact that I grew up in a very small town in West Virginia with two amazing parents who sacrificed everything for their children. Neither of my parents had the chance to attend college, but my dad travelled five days a week working for Nestle to become a top-ranked sales professional, and my mom raised three boys and ran the house while he was gone. We were loved and learned life’s greatest lessons from their example. I’ve had family members battle substance abuse and I’ve seen the pain this disease can have on the afflicted and their loved ones. I’ve also experienced discrimination in many forms, including an early employer that sent me to a communications course to get rid of my accent because it made me seem less educated. That’s just a sampling and only a few inches beneath the surface. We are all similar in that we each have unique qualities, experiences and life lessons.   

When reflecting on my own below-the-surface qualities, I’m reminded that what makes me unique is also a source of strength. No one is capable of being a better me, than me, so I learned to embrace my authentic self early in life. This has guided my thinking ever since, helping me learn from and connect with those around me, and inspiring me to cultivate a diverse and inclusive culture everywhere I operate.  

Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. At Intuit, we choose inclusion every day because we know it makes us stronger. The power of diversity and inclusion has a very practical and important application to the business world.If you create an environment where employees can bring their whole selves to work, your company will connect better with your diverse set of customers, and most importantly, you will give employees the power to speak up as individuals and to inspire others through their actions.

As we wrap up Pride month, I have been reflecting on my childhood experiences in West Virginia.  When I was younger, rumors swirled about me and a childhood friend. We had a wonderful friendship – campouts, sleepovers, movies, swimming and riding bikes. My friend was very courageous and clear with me early on who he was, so the rumors were not about him, but about me. I went home confused, and I talked with my parents. They said, "this is a moment of truth for you. You can stand up against all the misperceptions about you, or you can stand up for what you believe in, which is your friendship.” 

I chose option B, and I have never forgotten how important that moment was in my life. When I shared that story with the Intuit Pride Network when I became a member years ago, they said, "Brad, that makes you an ally." I replied in all sincerity, "I always thought it made me a friend." 

I’ll close with a final thought on the importance diversity and inclusion. Eleanor Roosevelt had a great quote: "We are all born angels with one wing, and the only way we fly is by holding onto each other." Let’s appreciate our differences and hold onto one another.