Pride month is all about communication. Outward expressions of support serve multiple purposes; it lets people know that they are not in a unique position, that there are many people that accept them for who they are, and that there are lots of reasons to be proud of their identity and community. In today’s age, influential people have used their public platforms to communicate these messages and share their own experiences. A benefit of this is that members of the LGBT community that have achieved tremendous accomplishments can prove that living a successful, meaningful life is possible despite instances of hardship and discrimination. While many of the most prominent LGBT individuals are successful artists and entertainers, there is far less representation in the world of business. Putting real voices and faces to corporate social advocacy – especially those with immense influence in our economy – breaks barriers that have excluded millions from career & life opportunities. Today, we’ll highlight Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple and a member of the LGBT community. He has expressed the importance of such communication through various publications, speaking events, charitable contributions, and in his own business leadership.
Tim Cook was born in Mobile, AL in 1960. His career began in 1982, progressing from positions at IBM, Intelligent Electronics, Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation, and finally Apple. His strategic streamlining of Apple’s supply chain logistics, among other operational responsibilities, earned him multiple promotions through the executive leadership. Cook succeeded Steve Jobs as the CEO of Apple in 2011. Since then, Apple has launched multiple iterations of existing products like the iPhone, iPad, as well as new products and services such as the Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods, and more. Under his tenure as CEO, the market capitalization of Apple has reached astronomical heights as much as $3.8 trillion USD. His career, and the achievements of those that he has led as a leader, should be an inspiration for those that think their orientation is too great a barrier to succeed in business.
His vocal support of the LGBT community is not only due to his personal identity, but because of his desire to improve the lives of others. Cook penned an editorial in Bloomberg in 2014 to publicly announce his orientation, and his reasons for doing so. His reasoning included that “it became clear to me that kids were getting bullied in school, kids were getting basically discriminated against, kids were even being disclaimed by their own parents and that I needed to do something.” Actions of people like Tim Cook often come at a great cost to personal privacy, public perception, and even the lives of those that surround them; but that proves the point that he’s making.
“For too long, too many people have had to hide that part of their identity in the workplace,” Cook wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal in 2013. This happens because people are often penalized for being authentic. Bowman & Company LLP strives to impress on our staff that we value them as complete individuals, not just for specific attributes. By not having to deal with judgement or shame of their personal lives, we hope that our people are more likely to offer the full extent of their ideas, collaboration, and talents in their professional lives. Trust and respect are the foundations of how we treat our colleagues as well as our services to our clients. They’re the characteristics of any meaningful and productive relationship with an accountant; but more than that, it’s something every honest person is deserving of in life.
Sources & Further Reading:
- Apple: Apple Leadership, Tim Cook – https://www.apple.com/leadership/tim-cook/
- Bloomberg Businessweek: “Tim Cook Speaks Up” – https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-speaks-up [*Paywall*]
- Brittanica: Tim Cook – https://www.britannica.com/money/Tim-Cook
- Companies Market Cap: Apple (AAPL) – https://companiesmarketcap.com/apple/marketcap/
- Wall Street Journal: “Workplace Equality is Good for Business (Cook, 11/3/13) – https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304527504579172302377638002 [*Paywall*]