“My team’s enthusiasm and drive energize me to work hard, and working with people who are intellectually curious inspires me to be innovative.” Below, hear from Hadia Edwards on why her colleagues have shaped her Intuitive experience so far, including in the BLACK Employee Resource Group.
Tell us a bit about your background.
As an immigrant, I naturally embrace change and the unpredictability of life’s journey. I migrated to New York from Jamaica with my family at age 7. My parents worked very hard to give my siblings and me access to opportunities they didn’t have, and I strive to make them and myself proud by stepping boldly into new opportunities.
Moving to New York had already introduced me to new cultures and ways of thinking, and I wanted to see what else the big world had to offer beyond the confines of my four-square-mile hometown. I went to college in the tundra of the Canadian border—Go St. Lawrence Saints!—where I navigated many rooms with few people who had faces or backgrounds similar to mine. I then moved all the way to the Bay Area to start my professional career, which led me to Intuitive.
Looking back at these leaps in my trajectory, I see that every step of the way I had a community of people from diverse backgrounds who lifted me up and supported me. I built relationships with people who lent their time, gave advice and direction, and shared their perspectives. The communities I’ve cultivated along the way have been pivotal in my personal and professional journey.
Tell us about what you do at Intuitive and how you contribute to its success.
I’m the finance manager supporting the Global Enterprise Technologies and Global Business Services Operations organization. I work with my business partners to manage their budgets, provide visibility to how they are trending against targets, and serve as a thought partner by providing insights to help drive business decisions and better outcomes.
I am happy to have recently become a first-time manager at Intuitive, as the company truly invests in its people. I am beyond proud and eager to help others develop and grow in their careers.
I’m also a member of the BLACK at Intuitive Employee Resource Group. Given my background, I wanted to continue to foster a community and help others along their journey.
What gives you energy and inspiration in your work?
I firmly believe that the people in an organization are the differentiator between a great company and a good one, and the people at Intuitive have made my three years here great. My team’s enthusiasm and drive energize me to work hard, and working with people who are intellectually curious inspires me to be innovative. I really like that we’re collegial, sharing tidbits of our lives with each other, and are also focused on producing quality work. And lastly, the product- and patient-centered values at Intuitive have truly made me believe in what we’re doing and push me to show up.
Tell us more about the BLACK ERG and the work it’s doing.
BLACK at Intuitive’s mission is to build a community that brings people together, creates a sense of belonging, and empowers those to share their diverse and unique experiences. Through elevating and giving Black employees and allies the platform to share their voice, we not only increase representation but also contribute to the company’s culture to be a competitive differentiator—diverse perspectives lead to compelling and innovative solutions. BLACK at Intuitive fosters inclusion and empowerment through networking opportunities, mentorship, and various events to get employees across the company engaged and involved.
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Are you ready to build a career with great people who inspire you? Check out our open roles: https://careers.intuitive.com/en/jobs/
