“When we talk about inclusion, we have to start with exclusion”

So, how did that experience at the Air Force shape your understanding of diversity? And how has that perception perhaps evolved over time as you entered the private sector and held leadership roles in some pretty big companies, including Twitter, and Goldman Sachs?

I had a very pivotal moment in my career when it comes to diversity and inclusion when I was working in the Air Force. The definition of diversity for the Air Force was originally nine words. And then in 2007-2008, it got expanded to over 30 words. I was incredibly disappointed by this. And not only was I disappointed in broadening the definition but in the military, where you put words matter. And so race, ethnicity, and gender were basically the last three words in the definition.

What words were put at the top, then?

Experience and all of these other things that were, if we think about diversity, and how our identities are, like, there are visible identities that we visibly can see. And then there are those that through conversation or getting to know someone you have to ask that are just a little bit deeper.
And so those deeper intersections that people have, were really put upfront. And I thought that this would be a distraction, but something very interesting happened. When we broadened the definition of diversity, everyone then saw themselves in that. So, all Four Star Generals that at that time, were all white men, they saw all their different intersections and where you are coming from, Middle of America and coming from a farm town and all these different things, and so we became much more invested. And we got more support. I wasn’t expecting that at all.
And so what that taught me was that when we talk about inclusion, sometimes we actually have to start with exclusion, because we’ve all felt it. And so if we can get everyone to think of those moments of feelings of exclusion, and then how do we get to inclusion together, it’s how we can bring people along. And I’m appreciative of that experience, and what that taught me.