This article originally appeared as a blog post on LinkedIn.

I’ve always seen Black History Month in two ways. On one side of the coin, the month is a celebration and recognition of the achievements of Black people. On the other, it is an annual reminder that racism is not a thing of the past, and that we must do everything in our power to challenge its roots in our culture. In 2020, both sides of the coin are relevant: This year is an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments and to opt in more than ever and acknowledge the work ahead of us.

It is with gratitude that I write that I had multiple opportunities to contribute to and further the conversation of anti-racism this month. First, I was invited to be part of a panel discussion on race hosted by the University of Exeter. I was honoured to (virtually) sit beside the other Black CEO panelists and to share my journey with students – our next generation of leaders – so that they might find confidence and inspiration in seeing someone who looks like me walk an unconventional path to becoming a global CEO.

Within Avanade, we hosted our own global townhall discussions to help our employees start to become more comfortable, competent, and confident talking about race and inclusion. I was #AvanadeProud of the engagement of our team on these sessions and it showcased for me the true desire there is to learn more and be active. To continue the conversation in the UK, we also hosted a panel discussion on allyship. Two employees, Shanila Marshall and Scott Phillips, shared their own perspectives on what the month means to them as a Black woman and as an ally. Their blogs address difficult, vulnerable topics that require introspection: trauma, privilege, judgement, and guilt. I thank my colleagues who stand ready to use their voices to create change. As allies, we must be visible and vocal on the topic.

This month was also an opportunity to take stock of the progress we’ve made as a company since the global protests in June. We recognized back then that this was going to be a journey and that it would take all of us together to make the changes a reality. So far at Avanade, we’ve launched a Global Taskforce on Race, Ethnicity, and Inclusion, led by Suzanne Dann (I’d encourage you to read Suzanne’s conversation with Accenture’s Global Ethnicity Lead, Gavin Young, which provided another opportunity to learn from each other). We’re rolling out two mandatory training for all employees on racism and bias. We expanded our STEM scholarships by 10, with five of those reserved for students from Black communities. We’re also partnering with Microsoft to support five nonprofits led by and serving African American and Black communities to advance their digital transformation, and we’ve already identified three of the five organizations.

I recognise that while these efforts may seem like only a drop in the ocean, we are making progress. And there is so much more to do. A concern I heard over and over during the summer was that the increased awareness of racism as a systemic problem was going to be a passing trend. Once social media feeds return to normal, will people still care? At Avanade the answer is a firm yes and together with my leadership team, I’m 100% committed to keeping the momentum going.

As a closing note, let me say this: Though I have lived elsewhere, the UK is my home. This is where I grew up, and it moulded me into the person I am today. Your home is where you feel safe, and it is so personal to me that we make my home – both the UK and Avanade – a place where everyone feels safe. During this year’s Black History Month, that’s what’s been most on my mind and what inspires me most to keep striving to make an impact.