The Tale of Equity: Ali and Adam

Adam and Ali both applied for an internship at a corporate company they had always dreamed of working for. Adam came from a working-class family; his father is a dentist, and his mother is an associate professor at a renowned university in Auckland. Ali came to New Zealand as a child with his mother as a refugee, living in government housing from a young age. Ali worked hard, hoping to create a better future for himself and his mother.

On the day of the interview, Adam drove his car and wore a new suit he had bought for the occasion. Ali, due to the distance, took two buses, which took him almost an hour to get to the interview. He wore a second-hand suit from a shop, which his mother tailored to fit him well.

Both Adam and Ali were selected and accepted for the internship. Ali was overjoyed and pleased to have the opportunity to work in a well-known and respected corporate environment. Adam’s parents were proud of him and took him out for dinner with his little sister. They had always been his cheerleaders, encouraging him to pursue his dreams and supporting him along the way. To celebrate his selection, Ali took his mother out to a local Chinese restaurant.

During the internship, Adam quickly excelled, impressing the corporate team with his leadership skills and his willingness to engage in conversations with senior team members to pitch his ideas. Ali worked hard, believing that his efforts would speak for themselves. His supervisor liked him very much and believed he was a great asset to the corporate team.

Adam and Ali became good friends through their internship. Adam learned about Ali’s background and childhood, while Ali heard about the amazing trips Adam had taken as a child and teenager. Ali’s mother, who experienced PTSD, had been in the care of a local community mental health care. Since a young age, Ali often acted as her translator in various situations, particularly concerning her healthcare.

Despite loving his job, Ali has been experiencing casual racial remarks, and he often feels uncomfortable speaking up. Adam brought this issue to the leadership team. He encouraged the company to consider a diversity policy to ensure all employees felt valued and to increase its competence in inclusive practices.

Ali was grateful to have a friend like Adam to advocate for him and appreciated his recognition of the barriers and systemic issues he had faced. Due to his leadership and ability to identify gaps within the company, Adam was given further responsibilities and recognition. Ali’s hard work and dedication led his supervisor to see his potential as a valuable junior staff member.

Adam often discussed the differences in treatment he and Ali experienced, becoming extremely aware of his own privilege. Ali often expressed his happiness at finally being able to support his mother with a stable job.

Before Christmas, Adam and Ali had a little get-together. Adam planned to travel across Asia with his girlfriend for a month, while Ali was saving up to buy his first car. On New Year’s Eve, Adam promised himself to advocate for minorities in the corporate world, even though he was unsure how to do it. Ali’s New Year’s resolution was to move out of the neighbourhood he grew up in so that he and his mother could live in a safer suburb.

Press enter or click to view image in full size