Helping others succeed extends beyond the technical aspects of our jobs, it also means influencing the culture and improving everyone’s experience at work.

Growing up in the 80’s, we were taught to “not see color,” men were told that “women’s rights were women’s issues,” and everyone knew that if “you worked hard, you’d succeed.” As I entered adulthood, it dawned on me that there were problems with those assumptions. They’re built around the persona I embody: a white, cisgender, heterosexual, able-body, middle-income man.

In order to understand how I can improve the lives of people who identify differently than me, I’ve spent a lot of my time since then listening to others and exposing myself to different experiences. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about diversity and inclusion, gained an understanding of how I can make an impact, and changed my behavior many times to do so. I’m still learning, every single day, and I enjoy sharing my experiences with others.

If you’re interested, read my thoughts on attending Grace Hopper Celebration 2018.

The following slides, including speaker notes, are from my presentation at’s Male Ally Summit 2019.

Feedback: If you attended my presentation, I would greatly appreciate your anonymous feedback (click here to go to the form).