MAKERS 2021 Kickoff Event - Guru Gowrappan

MAKERS 2021 Kickoff Event - Guru Gowrappan

Video Transcript

GURU GOWRAPPAN: Oh wow. Thank you, Sarah and Abby. I don't have words to express that inspiring conversation you had. And Abby, so good to see you always. We love having you as part of our Verizon Media family. You inspired me in many, many ways and all of us at Verizon Media and also pushing us to do more and also be more.

Sarah, I don't know what I can say. It's an honor to be with you just days after the historic moment of having-- being the first woman to officiate at a Super Bowl. So thank you both for being with us.

For those who don't know me, my name is Guru Gowrappan. I am the CEO of Verizon Media and also proudly consider myself a MAKERS man. MAKERS is clearly an important brand and a mission for us when I think about Verizon Media. And MAKERS is also very important for me personally and what it's meant to me over the years and where we are headed.

I've said this story, you know, different ways last couple of times I've had a chance to talk to all of you and have this conversation. I grew up in India. And through my travels and working abroad, you know, I saw firsthand how differently and unequally women were treated. And at the same time, I was lucky in that my family did not subscribe to those values.

My mom was and is one of the strongest people I know. She's taught me that we need to be vocal about the fight for equality. Because fight for equality is not one person's fight, it's everyone's fight. And it needs to be, it needs to be. Me and we've been fighting this fight for many years.

Even so, we knew that last year, we were not done. So in 2021, we pledge to keep going. I know there are great things in store for our MAKERS Conference today and the community as well this year. And I can't wait to join you all again in May. By the way, that's the big reveal we're doing right now. With that, enjoy the rest of the event. And let's roll the tape.