I've come to realize that, basically all my bosses and supervisors throughout my career have been male. And I've had great experiences, but it's made me appreciate the importance of diversity and inclusion.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the significance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace based on personal experiences with male bosses.
Catherine Cortez Masto reflects on her career experiences and acknowledges that most of her leaders have been male. While she appreciates the positive experiences she has had, this realization has led her to understand the crucial role that diversity and inclusion play in enriching the work environment and fostering varied perspectives.
In practice
During a conference on workplace inclusion, one could share this quote to highlight the need for diverse leadership.
When women apply for a job, we ask ourselves, 'Am I qualified? Do I have the experience? Do I have the education? Do I have the abilities?' When a man looks at that job, he thinks, 'How much does it pay?' We need to stop second-guessing our abilities. We need to stand up and make ourselves heard.
Seattle is like a global gumbo, a melting pot with all kinds of people - the rich, the poor, white people, some Chinese, Filipino, Jewish and black people - they're all here.
And what do we love about New York City? We love that everyone's here. We are one of the most diverse cities in the world. And that diversity is racial. It's ethnic, it's linguistic, it's class.
Here in the United States our Muslim citizens are making many contributions in business, science and law, medicine and education, and in other fields...[they are]upholding our nation's ideals of liberty and justice in a world at peace.
I'm not asking for there to be all black writer's rooms or all Asian writer's rooms, or all white - I want them all to be diverse. When it's diverse, you're going to have a completely different dynamic. Everybody feels othered. Nobody feels like they've got the upper hand.
To get real diversity of thought, you need to find the people who genuinely hold different views and invite them into the conversation.
Keep in mind that diversity does not just mean black. It means all of it - age, weight, gender.
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