We’re striving to make Intuitive a more inclusive place for people of all backgrounds. Read on to see a recap of recent events that celebrate our progress and provide a sense of community while creating a space for growth and learning. All of this is essential to realizing our I&D mission: To build an inclusive, equitable and diverse environment where every individual can belong and flourish—in our company and in the communities we serve. Inclusion Power Hour
“At Intuitive, we have people that can push you and you push them, all while being open-minded.” Field Service Engineer Daniel Castro shared his story during Intuitive’s first Inclusion Power Hour. Led by VP, People Experience and I&D Katie Juran, the session provided a space for the Intuitive community to discuss the importance of belonging to a thriving employee experience—and the work we can do to create a more inclusive Intuitive.
Lesly Marban, SVP, Marketing, shared the impact Intuitive’s inclusive leadership training has had on her. “People speaking the truth and challenging the status quo is important because as we try to innovate, we want to make sure people are comfortable sharing ideas,” Lesly said. During the hour, Katie also spoke with EVP and Chief Medical Officer Myriam Curet about the importance of inclusion not only within Intuitive but with our customers and surgeons. To foster that sense of belonging, Myriam told the group, takes all of us: “We all have something to contribute. It might be better understanding. Asking a question, starting a conversation, doing something different. Understanding what you can do to make this a more inclusive place to work.”
The Power Hour also featured Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker, Fox Sports analyst, and New York Times Best Selling author, in conversation with SVP and GM, US Commercial, Marc Bland. Emmanuel shared his approach to challenging conversations: “You have to approach them with truth, grace, and love,” he said. “Nobody cares what you know unless they know that you care.”
Design & Engineering Day
Once a year, Intuitive brings together employees for Design & Engineering Day, to showcase the incredible and innovative work of our designers and engineers. It’s a chance for us to reflect on and celebrate what we’ve built as a company and how our technology is helping patients around the world.
The day also featured keynote I&D speaker Thaniya Keereepart, a decision designer, strategist, and leader who shared insights from her TEDx talk on how we can apply principles of product design to our daily habits to help shape a more inclusive world. “Equality is an ideal,” Keereepart said. “To get closer to equality, we need to design small changes in ourselves—in how we show up to work together better, not despite our differences, but by acknowledging them.”
Pride Month
In June, the PRIDE ERG organized ice cream socials at our offices where ERG members and allies gathered to honor the start of Pride month and hand out Pride pins. We asked people to reflect on what the occasion means to them. Cindy Antonion, HR Director for the Chief Medical Officer organization, put it this way: “Pride Month celebrates love and acceptance and promotes equality, visibility, and justice. It means I can have the freedom to be my true self without discrimination.” Intern Week
This year, 152 interns from 74 universities in four countries joined Intuitive through our University Hiring Program. The program culminated with the annual National Intern Week in Sunnyvale where interns connected with leaders, met with our employee resource groups, toured facilities, and test-drove da Vinci systems. Interns also reflected on their experience. “Everything just feels so inclusive,” Gihan Dasanayaka said. “At lunch, full-timers would join us, or I could join a table and meet someone new. The highlight had to be seeing Gary (Guthart, CEO) walking around like a regular employee. Everyone is approachable and willing to share what they know.”
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Coming up, we’ll share how Intuitive celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and LGBTQ+ History Month. In the meantime, if you are looking to build a career at a company where inclusion drives innovation, look for your next role here.