Chapter 24 - Vanessa Speaks
Company invited employees to annual culture forum.
Vanessa volunteered to speak.
Marcus advised communications team not to script apology.
She stood on stage.
“I stopped someone before checking his badge because I decided what kind of person he was based on what I saw.”
She did not say:
“I failed to recognize founder.”
Good.
She continued:
“The fact he founded company made moment embarrassing for me. It did not make my decision wrong. The decision was wrong before I knew his name.”
Employees listened.
Then she said:
“I also followed training that rewarded some assumptions. That explains environment. It does not transfer my responsibility.”
No applause initially.
Then some.
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
She had not spoken for applause.
Marcus respected that.
After event, Andre Lewis emailed her:
That was better.
She replied:
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Thank you.
Nothing more.
