Using our voices to combat prejudice and stereotypes

  • ServiceNow Blog
  • Life at Now
  • Culture
  • 2023
May 01, 2023

Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Patrick T., Christian O., Raana C.

The month of May is devoted to celebrating the diverse cultures of Asians and Pacific Islanders. At ServiceNow, we commemorate these heritages year-round.

Asian and Pacific Islander communities worldwide have made great contributions to society through their vibrant arts, cuisine, and traditions. We honor the rich histories of the past while carving new paths for the future, aiming to combat prejudice and break down stereotypes along the way.

Meet three ServiceNow employees who share unique stories about cherished personal artifacts and how they’ve used their voices to influence positive change.


“Our voice has to be a superpower that we can utilize,” says Christian O., principal technical writer, holding a Best Director award he won for creating a film about Asian American families. “I think film and storytelling is just one way,” he adds.

Inspired by a story


Raana C., talent sourcer, talks about her favorite childhood book. Can you guess which one it is? “It's [about] somebody who wasn't expecting to have anything special, just live a very comfortable life in their hobbit home,” she hints.

“He goes on an adventure and ends up meeting loads of amazing people, dwarfs, and goblins along the way. It changes his perspective on his own life and his accomplishments,” she says. “Reading helped me learn what I wanted to say, how I wanted to feel, and how to verbalize that.”

That inspiration led Raana to help organize an opportunity for Asian leaders at ServiceNow to share their stories. A panel of three executive leaders joined Raana in the Staines, England, office to discuss how they challenged the biases they faced in their careers.

 

When you face up to bad things in the past, the most important thing is not to allow them to happen today or in the future, and as storytellers, we must play our part in that. -Michelle Yeoh, Oscar-winning actress


“One of the key lessons was that often, when we're victims of unconscious bias or microaggressions, the people perpetuating that don't realize their part in it. Speaking up lights the way forward for them in terms of making them aware of their actions and, in turn, empowering our own selves and our communities to feel better,” Raana adds.

Determined to be seen


“As Asians, we don’t just have to be in the background. We can be in the forefront,” says Patrick T., vice president of operational excellence.

“We can be in the forefront to lead a company’s strategy. We can be in the forefront to help shape the future. That’s what I think about for my kids, that they are working really hard in school. But you have to think bold. I think this next generation has a great opportunity to fulfill that more complete picture of what it is to be an Asian.”

From films to books to public speaking and beyond, we salute these employees for using their voices to create power and visibility for themselves and for Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Join a company that celebrates diverse heritages. Explore ServiceNow careers.

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