White CEO’s: Where are you?
I’m calling you out. You’re too quiet and that is a problem. Although I am seeing more commentary in the last 48 hours, there are so many leaders who have yet to speak up.
You have a responsibility to comment on what’s happening in our country right now. 54 million children and millions of educators are counting on you. I’ve pushed gently via previous LinkedIn posts, but my network and overall sphere of influence is too small at this point. And yes, I'm aware of my own profile picture and how this might sound - but clearly some of you are not listening to the voices that matter, so maybe you'll hear this.
As CEOs, however, you have a voice and it’s well past time you start using it. I’m sorely disappointed in you. I’m disappointed in myself. I should know better. I’ve been in the education industry for a long time and have seen the inequities both in our schools and in the companies that serve them. I have walked the corridors of hundreds of companies in my role as advisor, attended hundreds of events as exhibitor, speaker, and market analyst. All that time, the pale complexion of our industry has been staring back at me. Even though I’ve been thinking about these issues for a long time, the fact that I remained publicly silent is the the same as giving these issues no thought whatsoever.
The best time for me to have started using my voice was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now. It’s not too late.
It’s not too late for you, either, even if you’re already late to the conversation. Your team needs to hear from you. Your school customers need to see you taking action. Education leaders, district superintendents, school principals, teachers, edtech leaders....they all need you to step up. How do I know this? I’m talking to CEOs, company executives, and educators daily. The hurt is deep and your lack of response drives it deeper.
If you’re not sure where to start, call someone you trust and ask for help. Do the work. Even if you feel awkward or unsure, you have to do the work. There are so many people offering up resources, book lists, speakers, services….the work has never been easier to access, which makes it all the more troubling that you’re not present right now.
Because let me tell you something - you are doing serious harm your silence. If your intentions are clear and good and true, if you listen first and speak with humility second... then you should not worry about getting it perfect. Just get it out there. Look, even with concerted effort and good intentions, my wording can be wrong and my delivery can be tone-deaf. If there's one thing I've come to realize, it's this:
Mine is one voice among many and if you feel mine is out of tune, I hope someone will tell me. I give credit to the CEOs and industry leaders that are trying to find their voices right now, some of whom have gone ahead and put themselves out there already. I hope it inspires others to follow suit.
If you're wondering at all whether this letter applies to you, then I can promise you it does.
If I don’t speak up, I should not be in education. And if you don’t start speaking up, you should not be in education either.
- Jim
PLEASE read these notes:
I give credit to the many champions in this space that have used their voices for change for many years. I honor you and do not speak for any one person or group of people, nor claim deep expertise in all facets of race and equity. I simply want to use my voice in a constructive way.
It is not lost on me that I, a white man with many privileges, is calling out others. If you’re having a hard time reconciling that, please call me so we can do the work together.
Finally, letters and blog posts and LinkedIn comments are a start, but we’re going to have to “show the receipts” immediately and forever. My family has donated locally and committed to routine support of groups that support anti-racism work in our community. Our business is reflecting on its practices as well as the expectations we have for our clients. It comes late, but we come by it honestly.