We Must Forever Stamp Out Racism and Discrimination
I spent a good deal of time reflecting on current events over the weekend. I thought about our Nationwide values, how valuing people is intentionally at the top of the list. I thought about our caring culture and how proud I am of the strides we’ve made in cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment. I also thought about the journey ahead, and how it’s imperative that we continue to make progress – both within Nationwide and outside our walls.
The past week has been filled with significant emotion. We are saddened, angry and concerned by the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and we send our deepest condolences to his family for their loss. We’re alarmed about the destruction in our communities. We are struggling to make sense of everything and determine what we can do to be a force for good and affect change.
The images we have seen shed a light on the opportunities before us. This is why I have signed a letter in support of a resolution before the Columbus City Council which would declare racism to be a Public Health Crisis.
Additionally, my leadership team and I are taking time to sit down and listen to our associates in the midst of these events. Now more than ever, we need to listen. And not just listen to hear, but listen to understand. Only when we take the time to understand and appreciate the unique points of view of others can we make meaningful change.
Our company has prided itself in building a culture based on diversity and inclusion. While I admit I'll never fully understand what it is like to be a person of color, I know right from wrong. And I know that if any part of my team is impacted, it impacts us all. At its heart, that's what our "On Your Side" slogan means. It means holding one another accountable when we see injustice. And it means listening to one another – not just to hear or be heard, but to understand and be understood.
In the coming days, I encourage each of us to step outside of our comfort zones, seek to understand, engage in productive conversations and hold ourselves accountable for being part of the solution.
We must forever stamp out racism and discrimination.
Senior Retirement Specialist at Nationwide Financial
4 年Thank you Kirt for leading with compassion, courage and clarity. I am grateful for you and the OCEO providing the resources to help us be a catalyst for change. I look forward to working along side you and all our Nationwide Associates in bringing an end to racism.
Head of Data Analytics & Insurance Technology. Board Director-FTCT, Advisory Board-SPARK Institute, Board of Corporators-Hartford Healthcare.
4 年Kirt, thank you for your thoughtful and eloquent post. I concur. This past weekend, my 17 year old daughter (Meghna Mazumdar) said that she believes that diversity and cultural change should be led by the corporate sector which will then permeate throughout our society. She is a strong advocate of diversity and believes change needs to start from the Board Room down, not entry level (interns) up. And she has been doing something about it. She has already served as a Board Member for the USGA LPGA Girls Golf eLeaders Board of Directors and hopes to bring her knowledge of her generation to corporate boards and help businesses understand that her generation (Gen Z) is the coveted customer of tomorrow who the companies of today need to engage. She said that her generation “does not see America as a Red America or a Blue America, or for that matter a Black, Brown or White America” instead “her generation sees America as one race... THE HUMAN RACE”.