The fall season at Intuitive brought plenty of opportunities for celebration, learning, and reflection: three of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) held special events to highlight their unique culture and contributions. These moments are driven by the passion and commitment of ERG members and enrich the broader Intuitive community by recognizing and celebrating the diversity that makes Intuitive such a special place to work. Read on for a recap of these events, and other incredible things some of our ERGs have been up to lately.
Hispanic Origins and Latino Advocacy (¡HOLA!)
The ¡HOLA! ERG chose “driving progress, power, and prosperity” as the theme for this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month. “We’re focused on the impact and contributions of Latinx people while also recognizing the challenges facing our community.” Myriam Curet, EVP and Chief Medical Officer and ¡HOLA! co-executive sponsor said at the group’s celebration.
The event featured Lesly Marban, SVP, Marketing and ¡HOLA! co-executive sponsor in conversation with Shayla Rivera, Aerospace engineer, former NASA rocket scientist, and comedian. “Fall in love with who you are,” Shayla told the group. “We do belong, wherever we are. We always have far to go, verdad (right)? But you got to stop and look back and see todas las cosas (all the things) that we’ve done.”
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we also featured members of ¡HOLA! in our storytelling: Clinical Sales Associate Brianna Alvarado shared about expanding the impact of Intuitive to her own community, and Customer Program Specialist Mariana Avila discussed why being a part of ¡HOLA! is her proudest moment at Intuitive.
PRIDE
This LGBTQ+ History Month, our PRIDE Employee Resource Group focused on the critical issue of health equity—ensuring that healthcare is accessible, available, and affordable for all people.
PRIDE hosted a panel discussion with healthcare providers led by Darla Hutton, VP Commercial Operations and Marketing, Asia and PRIDE executive sponsor. They discussed the disparity in care the LGBTQ+ community faces—and ways to fight it. The panelists shared the importance of representation in all medical fields, empathy and curiosity in patient care, and the need for educational and financial resources to close the equity gap.
As Darla said during the panel, Intuitive also has a role to play. As a leader in medical technology, we aim to support LGBTQ+ providers—and to support hospitals as they educate their staff on treating every patient with respect and dignity. And of course, it starts at home, with conversations like this one that spark ideas and inspire change.
Reflecting on LGBTQ+ History Month, Kristofer O’Brien, director of leadership development and member of PRIDE, shared his story of belonging at Intuitive, and discussed why equity is so critical for everyone. “Every person should receive care in a respectful, dignified, and meaningful way," he says.
Also in October: For the first time, Intuitive sponsored and attended Lesbians Who Tech, where Darla Hutton was a featured speaker. “I’m a disruptive sales and marketing leader, I’m a roboticist, I’m a storyteller, and I’m a lesbian who techs,” Darla said. She applied the lessons of history to show why innovation and technology have always improved our lives—and why medical technology companies like Intuitive are now pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. “When a majority says it’s impossible, there are the few who dream of what could be,” Darla said.
Diverse-Abilities
“There’s power in saying something out loud. The stigma that’s holding in the dark thoughts in my head has not worked for me. Finding someone I can say it out loud to has really changed how I see things.” Rob Holop, senior manager in mechanical engineering and member of Diverse-Abilities (D-A), Intuitive’s ERG for employees with disabilities and their allies, shared during a panel on the vital topic of mental health.
The event brought together members of D-A—Rob, Lonnie Socha, Joe Harwood, and Manny Alfaro—who shared their diverse experiences with their mental health journeys. Jason Hart, D-A’s executive sponsor, introduced the discussion, which was moderated by D-A co-founder Mary Grace Gardner Sandoval. The panelists shared the importance of acknowledging their own pain, having an open mind, leading with empathy with everyone around you, and seeking help—including using mental health benefits offered by Intuitive—and community.
“This group is so compassionate, so open. There’s zero judgment. I can share my story honestly. People care enough about me to help me carry that, and I do the same for them. It’s given me a sense of belonging I didn’t even realize I was missing.” Manny Alfaro and two other members of Diverse-Abilities, spoke with our People Brand team on the sense of community they’ve found in the ERG and leading with vulnerability.
Women Intuitive Network
40 women from across Intuitive gathered at our Sunnyvale HQ to participate in the Women in Leadership Conference, sponsored by the Women Intuitive Network. With the theme of “shattering invisible barriers,” the event featured a lineup of phenomenal speakers, who shared their personal journeys and insights. Workshops and breakout sessions provided valuable tools and strategies for personal and professional growth. We also hosted women VP panel and another panel of executive male allies.
“The profound sessions and raw, shared narratives awakened a deep appreciation for the kaleidoscope of talents within Intuitive. This event not only ignited my determination but also left me overflowing with gratitude for the inspiration and invaluable connections we formed.” Senior Director, Global Business Services Brigitta Fenton sums up the transformative week.
Intuitive was proud to support this event, and we’re incredibly grateful for the leaders that gave their time and attention to these essential conversations and connections. The growth of women in leadership positions is critical to creating a company where everyone feels like they belong—and to our success.
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To learn more about Inclusion & Diversity at Intuitive, visit our careers site. And if you are looking for a transformative and challenging new role, check out opportunities here.
