Tech CEOs Look Ahead After Trump Victory - Wall Street Journal
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Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook told employees that the outcome of the U.S. election won’t shake the company’s core beliefs in diversity and inclusiveness, as technology-industry executives reacted to Donald Trump’s surprise victory.
In a memo Wednesday, Mr. Cook didn’t mention by name Mr. Trump, who has taken shots at Apple over jobs and data privacy, or former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom Mr. Cook backed in Tuesday’s election. Regardless of which candidate people supported, Mr. Cook said, “the only way to move forward is to move forward together.”
Mr. Cook didn’t address the divisive, bitter tone of the campaign. But he stressed Apple’s “North Star hasn’t changed,” and that the company embraces a diverse team of employees no matter “what they look like, where they come from, how they worship or who they love.”
Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg posted a message on the social network Wednesday evening, referencing his 11-month-old daughter Maxima.
“Holding Max, I thought about all the work ahead of us to create the world we want for our children,” Mr. Zuckerberg wrote. “This work is bigger than any presidency and progress does not move in a straight line.”
Mr. Zuckerberg said the most important opportunities of Max’s generation, including curing disease and improving education, “will take long-term focus and finding new ways for all of us to work together.” He concluded, “Let’s go work even harder.”
Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, whom Mr. Trump criticized for using the Washington Post, which Mr. Bezos owns, to advance Amazon’s interests, congratulated the president-elect in a tweet. “I for one give him my most open mind and wish him great success in his service to the country,” Mr. Bezos wrote.
Here is the full text of Mr. Cook’s memo.
Team,
I’ve heard from many of you today about the presidential election. In a political contest where the candidates were so different and each received a similar number of popular votes, it’s inevitable that the aftermath leaves many of you with strong feelings.
We have a very diverse team of employees, including supporters of each of the candidates. Regardless of which candidate each of us supported as individuals, the only way to move forward is to move forward together. I recall something Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said 50 years ago: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” This advice is timeless, and a reminder that we only do great work and improve the world by moving forward.
While there is discussion today about uncertainties ahead, you can be confident that Apple’s North Star hasn’t changed. Our products connect people everywhere, and they provide the tools for our customers to do great things to improve their lives and the world at large. Our company is open to all, and we celebrate the diversity of our team here in the United States and around the world—regardless of what they look like, where they come from, how they worship or who they love.
I’ve always looked at Apple as one big family and I encourage you to reach out to your co-workers if they are feeling anxious.
Let’s move forward—together!
Best,
Tim
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