Annie Jean-Baptiste ’06

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Annie Jean-Baptiste ’06, diversity programs manager for Google’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Team, works to diversify the next generation of technology professionals and promote inclusion programs among the tech giant’s 60,000 employees. She returned to Milton as the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Day speaker, asking students to honor other people’s perspectives, and sharing her beliefs about what people can do to be more inclusive and follow the life and lessons of Dr. King. Students have the power to effect change when they check their privilege, love harder, take risks, break rules, experience discomfort, and take an empathetic approach to disagreement, Annie says.

“At Google we talk about ‘building for all,’ and in order to do that, people with different perspectives and backgrounds need to be at the table, with equal agency to voice opinions and get things done. Research shows that teams with more diversity and deeper inclusion are more innovative and successful. We can extend that to Milton—we need the diversity of experience and backgrounds to foster the creativity and genius that Milton is known for.”

Dare to Lead

Uncertain times demand great leaders—and great leadership demands courage, intellect, and unshakable sense of ethics. Milton centers these ideals in its classrooms and community at large. Alumni at the tops of their fields cite their Milton experiences as foundational in preparing them to lead. On campus, students begin leading as soon as they begin learning, readying themselves for the world they will inherit with the confidence needed to effect positive and lasting change.