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Apple CEO comes out in support of empathy

Written by George Anderson

Apple CEO Tim Cook's public admission that he is gay provided confirmation to one of the worst kept personal secrets in corporate America. Mr. Cook's editorial on the Bloomberg Businessweek site was noteworthy, however, not just for its social implications, but because of the message that organizations such as Apple that embrace diversity in its many forms are more likely to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

"For years, I've been open with many people about my sexual orientation. Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I'm gay, and it doesn't seem to make a difference in the way they treat me," wrote Mr. Cook. "Of course, I've had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people's differences. Not everyone is so lucky."

Mr. Cook joins a very small number of openly gay executives. Others (via CNBC) include:

  • Robert Hanson, the former CEO of American Eagle Outfitters who now runs John Hardy, a jewelry company;
  • Christopher Bailey, CEO and chief creative officer at Burberry;
  • Trevor Burgess of C1 Financial;
  • Peter Thiel, former CEO of PayPal;
  • Rick Welts, president and COO of the Golden State Warriors.

"Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day," wrote Mr. Cook. "It's made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It's been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry."

Mr. Cook, who asked for and received support from Apple's board before publishing his editorial, received praise through social media from other leaders, including former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Virgin founder Richard Branson.

"We've taken huge strides in terms of diversity and gay equality," Suki Sandhu, CEO of OUTstanding, a non-profit that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) executives, told USA Today, "but there is clear evidence that homophobia still persists in the workplace, manifest in the harassment and lower pay for LGBT workers."

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