Award cites her deep commitment to ethical leadership and ‘zero tolerance’ for hate
New York, NY, March 11, 2024 … Julie Sweet, Chair & CEO of Accenture, a true innovative leader who leads by example and inspires others to do the same, and who has publicly proclaimed zero tolerance for antisemitism and all forms of hate, has received the ADL’s (Anti-Defamation League) highest honor, the Courage Against Hate Award.
Sweet was presented with the award on Thursday during ADL’s 2024 Never Is Now Summit, the world’s largest summit on antisemitism and hate, which attracted nearly 4,000 participants this year. The award was presented by a previous recipient, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla.
“Julie is not intimidated by the forces of evil, and is unafraid to speak out for truth and justice,” Dr. Bourla said in presenting the award. “She does not look for an easy way out, or the path of least resistance. She is willing to confront what is uncomfortable and disrupt the status quo, if she thinks that the status quo is wrong. She refuses to stay silent … in the face of hate, because she knows that silence is the biggest enabler.”
“I am honored today to accept this award on behalf of the over 700,000 courageous people of Accenture, who strive every day to live our values of respect, equity, inclusion of all people, and zero tolerance of hate and bigotry of any kind,” Sweet said in her acceptance remarks (video). “If you take anything away from my speech today, I hope that it is this: That in order to eradicate hate, we must both speak up and take action against hate whenever we see it, and every day we must intentionally build bridges across our communities. We must build the foundation of trust, understanding and shared humanity that will be the opposite of hate.”
Since the Hamas terrorist massacre on Oct. 7, Sweet has voiced strong support for those in Israel and in Gaza who have suffered and lost, and as a company, Accenture is donating millions of dollars to relief efforts for civilians in Israel and Gaza during this conflict and is also matching employee donations to charitable relief organizations.
Sweet has publicly proclaimed Accenture’s zero tolerance for antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and hate speech of any kind. She guided the corporation to sign ADL’s Workplace Pledge to Fight Antisemitism.
“After the Oct. 7 terrorist massacre in Israel, when the floodgates for antisemitism opened around the world, for some companies it was just business as usual,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “But not at Accenture. Under Julie Sweet, Accenture has shown a deep commitment to ethical leadership and zero tolerance for antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and hate speech of any kind. As we all witnessed the tragic loss of life and suffering for people in Israel and in Gaza, the company has made a series of significant donations to provide relief efforts for civilians. This is what responsible corporate leadership looks like.”
ADL established the Courage Against Hate Award to recognize courageous and visionary leaders from the private sector who are dedicated to fighting hate for good, boldly use their personal and professional brands to that end and inspire others to actively work to make the world a better place. In addition to Dr. Albert Bourla, past recipients include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Chobani CEO and Founder Hamdi Ulukaya, Merck & Co. Executive Chairman Kenneth C. Frazier, and L’Oreal Chairman Jean-Paul Agon.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.