The main theme of this edition of SXSW was nothing new. Much more than all the content about technology, branding, and innovation, what caught my attention most at the festival was the recurring discourse from the speakers about accountability and the active contribution that each of us should make in the pursuit of the equality that is so often discussed.<\/p>\n
This topic was truly present in all kinds of lectures and panels. It was exciting to see. On any stage where we saw a woman, we heard assertive statements about the urgent need for parity in the workplace and enthusiastic applause from the audience.<\/p>\n
Melinda Gates, Bozoma Saint John (CBO of Uber), Stacy Brown-Philpot (CEO of TaskRabbit), and Nina Shaw (lawyer and one of the founders of Time's Up, among many other things) shared personal stories and the path they took to transform their discomfort with the lack of representation into concrete actions.<\/p>\n
The calm, didactic, and surgical discourse of these women was not surprising at all, but it shook us. No argument there was new or surprising. No data was unprecedented. But the repetition of the obvious and unanimous highlighted a problem: despite agreeing with everything that was being said, most people still position themselves as observers, moved but not engaged and little aware of their own power. Why is that? What distracts us?<\/p>\n
It's interesting to note that, even among the speakers, all reported having experienced an "aha moment." In one way or another, each of these remarkable women arrived at the same conclusion as Angela Davis, the American activist, who said: "I will no longer accept the things I cannot change. I will change the things I cannot accept."\u201c<\/p>\n
Stacy Brown-Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit and one of the few Black women in such high-level positions in the US, recommended the following reflection: \u201cGo back to your jobs and ask yourselves: What am I effectively doing to change the things I disagree with? Who am I joining forces with? Who am I pulling up as I climb to the top?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bozoma Saint John stated that one of her biggest motivations for joining Uber was the opportunity to help the brand bring more diversity to the team. She affirmed that, of all her challenges \u2013 and we know that when it comes to Uber there are many \u2013 helping to build a diverse team where everyone feels valued and safe is one of the most important and also one of the most exciting. According to her, "if it's the greatest example of everything that's wrong in our industry, then when we fix it, nobody will have an excuse anymore."\u201c<\/p>\n
Several male speakers joined the chorus, directly addressing sensitive issues about their role in this movement. In a talk called "Allies in equality: how diversity shapes a brand," Wade Davis (former NFL player) presented practical tips and recommendations for the male audience, encouraging them to take responsibility and position themselves as allies.<\/p>\n
These were exciting days that made me feel called upon to do my part and to work to apply what I learned in my daily life, in every decision, meeting, selection process, etc.<\/p>\n
After all, having given so many inspiring people a standing ovation, simply sitting and observing the audience's conversation was no longer an option.<\/p>\n