Reflections
Rodney Clark
![Rodney Clark]()
Rodney Clark
SVP, Partnerships and Small & Medium Business | Previous Chief Commercial Officer, Johnson Controls | Previous CVP, Microsoft
The events over the past couple weeks have been crippling. Unfortunately for those in the black community, this is all too familiar. It must stop! As we all work together to heighten awareness and change the systems of oppression, let us recognize that it is our children and their children who will not only work with us, but also carry the responsibility to sustain the change. The link above is the perspective of 1 young black man (for transparency my son – under his artist name)
As you internalize this message along with the experiences and guidance you have been getting from my black colleagues and peers, here are concrete actions that you can take to BE the change:
- Be vulnerable. This is where trust is built. This also invites others to be vulnerable as well (and be their authentic selves)
- Read, research and get informed and be comfortable NOT being a subject matter expert.
- Check in with your peers, family, friends in the African American and Black community - every day and often to learn from their experiences. Through these ‘check ins’, educate ourselves on what is happening outside of work and leverage this to drive better, more diverse and inclusive working environments and to build better communities.
- Push for greater representation and inclusion in hiring and in meetings.
- Have the conversation with your kids (and younger family and community members). There is no wrong jump in point.
- Don’t stop by asking what you can DO… BE the change!
WW Partner and Channel Sales | Sales Leader | Driving Collaboration Devices Growth | Ex Microsoft
4 年Thx for sharing your sons blog. Powerful and pointed yet representing many in that age bracket. Best, Pratik
Executive Assistant
4 年WOW, thank you Rodney. I cried reading your son's post and felt how young he is and how mature he sounds. Being the change. Take care.
Former Microsoft | Partner & Channel Sales Leadership | Generative AI | Digital Transformation
4 年Thank you for sharing this Rodney.
Vice President, Market Access, responsible for the global partner ecosystem at Rockwell Automation
4 年What an amazing post from both of you. Thank you so much for sharing, and for your son giving me something my kids (same age) can relate to. It's sometimes hard for parents to explain this world to our youngsters without it coming off as preaching... or we parents thinking that by simply by sharing our own thoughts with our kids, they will assume through "osmosis" our own values or how to feel. It's much more complex than that, especially as the world around them is not necessarily reinforcing these messages. Thank you both for sharing this.