October 31, 2014

Tim Cook on difference, empathy and empowerment

editor:	FairPlanet Editorial Team

Apple CEO Tim Cook has written a powerful piece in Bloomberg Businessweek on being gay and the impact it has had on his life.

Rather than 'admitting' to being gay, Cook focused on how his experience of difference has enriched his life.

"Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day," he writes. "It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple."

Cook also wrote about equality as a core value, not only for himself but also for Apple.

Commentators may have been surprised to hear this - the behemoth electronics company he heads up has been criticised in the past for the labour conditions provided for its workers, particularly in China.

Perhaps his piece can be read simply as something personal: a man stepping out from behind his brand to present himself, as well as all the hopes, dreams and complications that come with being a human being.

"I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy."

The fairplanet team was inspired by Cook's piece this week, and that is why we chose this as our Editor's Pick to round off the week. We hope to see more prominent human beings talking openly about the importance of diversity and then living their words large for others to see.

"Part of social progress is understanding that a person is not defined only by one’s sexuality, race, or gender." - Tim Cook

Read the full piece on Bloomberg Businessweek