Our Shared Humanity

On October 7th, Israel suffered its deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. Heartbreak is everywhere – over atrocities that can never be explained, condoned or excused. At Korn Ferry, we express our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel—and all of the innocent civilians throughout region who are still suffering and in harm’s way. One thing is clear. We must stand together against antisemitism and all forms of hatred and acts of violence. As we look at the atrocities and agony committed by terrorists through our own lens, we must never forget that although we may not personally experience something, it is happening to others. The people and their stories permeate today’s reality. Above all else, our shared humanity must always supersede brutality. So what do we do with our emotions, particularly when they are so raw, so personal? In the face of horrifying images – even if they’re not at our doorstep – it’s natural to have [Black Korn Ferry logo JPG 400.png]() On October 7 th, Israel suffered its deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. Heartbreak is everywhere – over atrocities that can never be explained, condoned or excused. At Korn Ferry, we express our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel—and all of the innocent civilians throughout region who are still suffering and in harm’s way. One thing is clear. We must stand together against antisemitism and all forms of hatred and acts of violence. As we look at the atrocities and agony committed by terrorists through our own lens, we must never forget that although we may not personally experience something, it is happening to others. The people and their stories permeate today’s reality. Above all else, our shared humanity must always supersede brutality. So what do we do with our emotions, particularly when they are so raw, so personal? In the face of horrifying images – even if they’re not at our doorstep – it’s natural to have anger in our heart and grief on our mind. But let’s not lose the empathy in our ears and the inclusiveness in our actions as we seek a different path. Over this past week, as a war and a global humanitarian crisis darkened our skies once again, I reflected on the words shared with me just over a year ago by a colleague as the war in Ukraine escalated and refugees flooded across the border. “We didn’t have any doubts, even for a second, that this is what we would do—people from all religions and no religion, from the right and the left. It was a universal gesture of love.” At the time, he was trying to process the paradox he was experiencing – the suffering, turmoil and war that were at his door, and also the universal love that was being demonstrated by others. It’s natural to tell ourselves that we, too, would like to do something. But we don’t have the answers, and hope feels like a luxury when so many people around the world are suffering. It starts with making connections through gestures of goodwill. If we say we don’t like war, are we living peacefully? When we desire peace, do we act with peace? When we value truth, do we uphold it? And, as leaders, colleagues and neighbors, when we feel compassion, do we show it? Make no mistake, this is not about sharing the same convention, it’s all about intention. No matter where we live on this planet, no matter our experiences, upbringing and personal beliefs, we need to rediscover our basic commonality. The situation facing the world today is complex and so much bigger than any of us, but not bigger than all of us. As an old Irish proverb that an executive shared with me so poignantly states, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” As we’ve seen, in life and leadership, a single truth holds: The course of humanity ultimately will never be dictated by tyranny and terrorism. Indeed, what prevails is our shared humanity – our better selves. May each of us find comfort in all of us. Regards, Gary Burnison Korn Ferry CEO [linkedIn-white.png]() [fb-white.png]() [twitter-white.png]() [yt-white.png]() [iTunes-white.png]() [Korn Ferry]() [Korn Ferry Institute]() [Contact Us]() This email was sent to you to market Korn Ferry services. Please click [here]() to update your email preferences or unsubscribe from our announcements and promotional communications. You may continue to receive transactional emails such as registration confirmations, product updates, and responses to your direct requests. Korn Ferry | 1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1500 | Los Angeles, CA 90067 U.S.A. © 2023 Korn Ferry. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy]().