For Twitter's Head of Global Accessibility, Her Life's Work Started at Home

“Progress can never be fast enough,” says Gurpreet Kaur, Twitter’s first-ever head of global accessibility. If anyone knows that to be true, it’s Kaur. She was born and raised in India, where disability (especially neurodiversity) is still a taboo subject, with limited education and awareness around disabilities and the role of society and corporations to build an inclusive world. Kaur faced this issue head-on when her son was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. She quickly found her personal purpose in life: making a difference in the lives of people who have been marginalized by society. Twitter Shares Data on Generation Z’s Presence on Its Platform Find out how she overcame typecasting in the corporate world, how she abides by the boundaries she sets in place for healthy work-life integration, and her holistic view of success. How did you get to where you are today? Kaur: My son was born in the U.S. and got diagnosed with ADHD in preschool. That moment in my life opened up a new world for me. I read books, took trainings, went to workshops, volunteered in my son’s school and talked to countless doctors to understand what it means to have ADHD, how it manifested in my son and what was the role of his school, our community and me as his parent to ensure the environments around him were inclusive. My journey with accessibility as a profession started at the same time. I have found the purpose of my life since then and have realized that my passion is fueled from making a difference in the lives of people who have been marginalized by society. It also aligns with my personal values being a Sikh, considering service is one of the foundational tenets of Sikhism. How do you foster strong professional relationships as you grow in your career? I have always made sure to connect/follow people on Twitter and LinkedIn after I meet them or hear them speak, since life has a tendency to get busy. Relying on social media platforms enables me to be more efficient with my time in managing relationships. Setting and respecting my own boundaries has been the biggest learning opportunity for me. What’s one way you’ve invested in yourself that’s had the most impact over the course of your career? What about within the past year? My hunger to never be satiated, to learn and to grow has had the most impact on my career. I actively look for opportunities to expand my knowledge by talking to peers in industry, attending conferences, leadership programs and reading a lot. I never have time to sit down and read a book, so I am always listening to audiobooks and podcasts while I walk or drive. How do you view work-life integration, especially now, and what advice can you share with others who may be struggling with it? Being in an executive position, work-life balance is almost impossible to accomplish on a daily basis, so I make sure to find small chunks of time every day to focus on myself and my son. I also make sure to schedule time on my calendar to take trips with my son on weekends or take time off. When I take time off, I respect that commitment and let the team take care of the work while I am gone. Setting and respecting my own boundaries has been the biggest learning opportunity for me. Can you recall a situation where you've dealt with typecasting in the workplace? And what advice do you have for other women on how to overcome typecasting at work? I migrated to the U.S. in 2003 and since then have struggled to fit into the American corporate world. Initially, I was so confused and wondered if I should try to fit into the culture to be able to grow my career, but it was not until recently that a mentor told me that the most valuable thing about me was what made me unique. She taught me that when you stop trying to fit into a mold and instead follow your heart and passion, you create a new path for people to follow. I want to share a quote by Maya Angelou with other women who might be in similar situations: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Everyone has a story, and every story is important. So, we should all support each other in sharing our stories and breaking the beliefs that limit us. What’s one tip you can share or something you’ve learned on how to handle salary negotiations or raises? I strongly believe that women should learn to dream big as we have been held back by our biology, beliefs and cultures for far too long. We need to learn how to manage our imposter syndrome and believe that nothing is out of reach. Who has helped you in your journey and how did they help shape your career? My parents helped me be the person I am today by teaching me the importance of personal values and the importance of doing something bigger than your own selfish worldly needs. Through my professional career, a lot of brave women leaders and colleagues have supported me as a collective and also taught me the importance of supporting other women. Lastly, I have been blessed to have the ability to surround myself with a community that is working on a common goal of creating an inclusive world—they have been graceful, patient and supportive in my learning and growth. What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? If you do not know how to love yourself, you cannot love others. What does success mean for you? Raising a 12-year-old amazing young man has been my biggest success, and he has taught me a lot about my role as an advocate for disability inclusion. Success is very holistic in my eyes. If you just climb the career ladder without growing other aspects of your life, you could feel deprived long-term. It is crucial for me to feed my hunger for knowledge, creativity and spend valuable time with my family. Not only does it bring me true joy, but it also helps me bring my sharpest self when it comes to work. Becky Kekula’s Impactful Work in the Disability Space is Not Just a 9-5

Women Trailblazers

For Twitter's Head of Global Accessibility, Her Life's Work Started at Home

Gurpreet Kaur shares the personal meaning of her role at the social network

Luz Corona

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