Sachin H. Jain, President and CEO, Board Director at SCAN Health Plan, shared on X:
“I spoke to Nikkei Asia about America’s 250th Anniversary.
One exchange from my interview with Nikkei has stayed with me:
Years ago, an HR business partner at a prior company told me there was a rumor that I was ‘only hiring Indians.’
She pointed to my recent hire of Aelaf Worku as an example.
I replied, ‘You know Dr. Worku isn’t Indian—he’s Black and Ethiopian.’
I was shocked by the ignorance.
I then asked, ‘If I were a white physician hiring white physicians, would you be having this conversation with me?’
The answer from the HRBP (who I believed to be very well-intentioned) was a sheepish, ‘I probably wouldn’t.’
The experience reinforced something I believe deeply:
We as leaders have to create environments where meritocracy exists for everyone.
The worst thing we can do as minorities is only sponsor people who look like us and act like us. We’ll simply recreate the pathologies we’re trying to overcome.
Everyone’s responsibility is these divisive times is the same:
Hire, develop, and sponsor the best people—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or background.”
You can also read: The Courage to Question, the Freedom to Learn in the Pursuit of a Better Future – Happy July 4th
