Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s "karma" comments at the recent Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference won't die down quietly: Women don’t need to ask for a pay raise because we can trust in meritocracy; the system will treat us fairly. Karma will take care of us. This reminds me of Boy George. Then, I get the giggles. If you’re too young or have better taste than to admit to knowing Boy George and Culture Club’s 1983 smash “Karma Chameleon,” here’s one verse: I’m a man without conviction. I’m a man who doesn’t know. How to sell a contradiction. You come and go. You come and go." Ample others are commenting on Nadella: Lydia Dishman’s The Perfect Case Against Microsoft CEO’s Remark That Women Shouldn’t Ask for Raises is terrific. When I think there's not one more thing to say about Nadella, another insightful article crosses my path. Thanks to Nadella, important conversations have sparked and caught fire. In that spirit, let me share a Microsoft memory. Diversity Moment As a volunteer facilitator for a youth leadership program I was asked to write and share a “Diversity Moment,” a memory of a time when I felt different, or felt I was treated … [Read more...]
Rethinking Millennials
Talking recently with a middle-aged, middle-American businessman, I found myself bristling at the refrain: young people are so entitled, they don't know how to go the extra mile at work. This from a gentleman who, by all accounts, is a tremendously compassionate person (e.g. he volunteers with inmates and makes it a point to do ‘good works’ in his community). Curiously, Millennials seem to be getting a particularly bad rap. Of course, every generation holds myths or fears about subsequent generations. Somehow they’re not as strong or giving or studious or serious as we are. With the world going to hell in a hand-basket, things will get worse when the Millennials take charge because frankly, they’ll be too busy taking selfies to solve any of the world’s problems. Sound at all familiar? In the moment, I couldn’t find a diplomatic way to disagree with this man, to call out what I believe to be this “entitlement” Millennial Myth. If you happen to find yourself doing a little Millennial-bashing too, how about we all take a breath and compassionately consider what’s going on in the United States: Millennials have faced 17 to 30 percent unemployment (depending on their skin … [Read more...]
