A Call for Change

At Stanford, we embrace disruption, innovation, and thought-provoking ideas that are meant to shape and improve the world we live in. We enter this institution, as hopeful new admits, with the intention of developing ourselves over the course of our two years into leaders capable of tackling the most complex issues and driving the most impactful changes — changes that are meant to better lives, organizations, and the world.

But the state of our country makes it clear to us that we must be instigators of change now. The senseless murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd and the collective pain, sadness, and rage that has erupted throughout this country since indicate that we are at a tipping point.

Even in the face of a pandemic that has disproportionately killed people of color, our Black communities are in the streets of our cities protesting a corrupt and inequitable system. We must be leaders who do more than discuss ideas of positive impact — we have to be forces of action ourselves.

You cannot be a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business community and not acknowledge the incredible privilege that the Stanford name imparts unto you. It is imperative for all of us who hold this influential network of executives, officials, and thought leaders to call upon them to use their platform to advocate for policing reform and accountability.

As Black students, we must become allies and leaders in business committed to using our voices to amplify the ones our society attempts to drown out.

And we all must become agents of change — agents with the unrelenting belief that if we are going to change lives, change organizations, and change the world, we must fight for Black lives now.

The Stanford GSB community is invited to join a Vigil for Black Lives on Friday, June 5th at 5pm PST. This virtual space is open to all Stanford students, staff and faculty. RSVP here.

Sponsored by: Black Community Services Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Office for Religious Life and Ujamaa House