A Reflection on Martin Luther King Day, Davos, And Building A More Equitable World

This year, I am spending Martin Luther King Day in Davos, Switzerland to represent Pinterest at the World Economic Forum (WEF).? Below are some of my reflections on what this day means to me this year, how Dr. King’s values inform my agenda at the WEF, and why Pinterest sees its diverse and inclusive workforce as a critical strength.

Every year, Martin Luther King Day offers us an important chance to reflect on the values Dr. King fought for – the progress we’ve made, the obstacles yet to be overcome, and the work that lies ahead.

Let me start with the progress, because this is top of mind for me today as I start my day in Davos, Switzerland, where I’m representing Pinterest at the World Economic Forum – a real “bucket list” moment in my career.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to visit Ghana, West Africa for the first time.? As the child of immigrants from Guyana in South America, I reflect on my dad leaving Guyana when he was 18 to go to Iowa State – setting about a journey to start a new life and seek out new opportunities in America.??

During my time in Ghana, I thought a lot about journeys.? Not just my father’s journey, but the journey of the hundreds of thousands of enslaved people captured in West Africa and forced to make the journey to lands far away, including to Guyana where my parents were born.

These journeys led to my journey. ?

So today, as I speak to you from Davos, where I'm representing Pinterest as Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer I think about the long journey this represents for me.? I think about my ancestors.? I think about the pride my father would feel in me.? I think about the opportunity I now have to contribute to a more equitable world – and the ways in which I now benefit from the journey and progress that leaders like Dr. King fought to achieve.??

Indeed, as Dr. King famously said: the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.

At the same time, I want to recognize the obstacles yet to be overcome.??

It’s never been more important to create spaces where everyone feels welcome – and where everyone has a fair shot at opportunities to lead and contribute.? That view is a core part of what makes Pinterest strong as a company and as a platform – and we will not waver in that belief.

I am proud to be at Pinterest where we see our diversity and our inclusiveness as strengths to celebrate, not differences to downplay.? We create immense value for users and advertisers alike thanks to our investments in a diverse and inclusive workforce with equitable opportunities, which puts us in a strong position to build a more inclusive platform.? This attracts a wide range of users who find the content that reflects their identity and interests on Pinterest, and advertisers who get better results because users are more engaged.

So as I reflect on the progress we’ve made and the challenges that remain as of this year’s Martin Luther King Day, I don’t want to sit on the sidelines.? I’m determined to renew my resolve – and our resolve – to work toward the world Dr. King dreamed of realizing.

I'm planning to model that commitment in my engagements at the World Economic Forum (WEF) here in Davos.? Here are some of the themes I’ll be discussing:

Getting Content Moderation Right: On the WEF main stage, I will be joining an important conversation titled “To Moderate or Not to Moderate?” about the choices online platforms face in moderating content.? One point I’ll highlight is the advantage Pinterest has as a platform that has always prioritized being positive by definition, safe by design, and healthy by intention. This is why we are not currently anticipating content moderation policy changes even as others make major shifts.? Positivity is working for Pinterest.

Tuning AI For Good: In an Inkwell Davos Beach panel, I will emphasize that we're at a crossroads for AI, where the norms and innovations we cement in the next few years could define whether AI is additive instead of addictive, inclusive and hopeful instead of toxic and harmful.? Our experience at Pinterest shows that we can tune AI for good to make our product more inclusive; thanks to our AI, we are able to surface a more diverse range of body types, hair styles, and skin tones – making Pinterest a place where more users, including people of color, can feel seen and celebrated for who they are.

Building Better Online Spaces: In an Axios fireside chat, I will make the case that the digital world need not take a toll on mental health.? We can and should create online spaces that are safer, more positive, and have a good impact on mental health and well-being – especially for young people.? More broadly, companies can take action to support youth mental health and safety; Pinterest has partnered to create the Youth Mental Health Corps and our CEO, Bill Ready, has spoken out on age verification and regulatory efforts to protect young people online.

The Power of Inclusive Leadership: And finally, I will join a session hosted by The Female Quotient, about how inclusive leadership isn’t just good for people – it’s vital for a successful business.? I’ll share how inclusion helps us build a stronger workforce at Pinterest.

The Path Forward: Remember Who We Are

Let me conclude with this.? As someone who went to Howard University in Washington, DC – one of our nation's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs – I can remember that Dr. King's legacy was present on our campus long after his passing.? It was a place he had visited many times.??

On the first occasion, in 1956, when he was only 27 years old, he delivered a sermon called "Remember Who You Are" to Howard students.??

"The greatest witness that you can give is to remember who you are, and by remembering who you are, you will awaken a challenge within others to remember who they are," he said, "And this old world will be transformed into a new world."

Remember who you are.? It's a lesson that's particularly special for us today at Pinterest, a platform that has always been about people celebrating who they are.

During my time in Davos and the journey beyond, I'm planning to keep who I am top of mind – and to boldly and unapologetically bring my full self to all I do.??

When we lead with who we are, I know we can transform this old world into a new world of fairness and justice, belonging and positivity.