I have been very critical of how one-sided and uninclusive leaders in tech and in my company have been when they choose to speak about the crisis ongoing in the region right now, but I wanted to make sure that people get the overall picture of how it is and want people to know that it *is* getting better, even if it doesn't always look that way. October is the month of giving at Microsoft, one of the things I love the most about our company, which has been matching employee giving for all causes for decades, even before it was cool. Last year, it was very difficult for Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims inside the company. Despite having lost many more people even within a month, several speakers and giving events to try and provide aid and relief for Gaza were canceled or censored. Many felt helpless and unheard. This year, things are noticeably better. Giving events are not randomly canceled last minute, speaking events are not censored out of an unnamed and unsubstantiated concern. We feel we are able to at least express our concern for our people and seek allies and aid and not feel ashamed or like we're risking violation of corporate policy or our careers. This is something that has gotten noticeably better, and for that I am grateful to our leadership for listening and improving. Photo: Me and my lifelong friend brother Muhammad Arrabi at a fundraising dinner for Palestinian and Lebanese victims yesterday on campus featuring delightful Arabic Oud music.
Great to hear that things are improving.
Love it! Continue the outreach and activism my friend!
Thank you Tarek Dawoud for continuing to share your voice with us, and glad to hear and see things are improving. I only hope they continue to do so as I see too many of my friends and coworkers struggling with having to keep up a good face while trying to figure out if their loved ones back home are still safe.