Description

---

From one of the first and few women of color to reach the C-suite in Silicon Valley, Apple’s former chief of HR and first VP of inclusion and diversity, comes a heartfelt story of growing up Black and female in a world with little regard for either and a practical road map for embodying the best in yourself and emboldening others along the way.

“You will enjoy reading this book and benefit as a business leader but mostly as a member of the human race.”—Ron Johnson, business leader Apple, Target, JCPenney

For her work as a co-creator of the Apple Store cultural experience, Denise Young has been deemed by leadership experts as one of the most emotionally intelligent leaders of her era. In this stirring narrative, part-memoir, part blueprint for action, she shares her vision of what it means to be truly seen at our places of work. As a “first and only” woman of color in boardrooms and leading roles across the Bay Area’s booming tech industry, Denise was a trailblazer in a business that was never built for her. The first black and female senior executive under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Denise was often in “the room where it happened.” But within a white male-centric professional culture, she still had to work harder, smarter, and differently to be heard.

In When We Are Seen, Denise shares insights on using your own story, empathy, and intuition to unlock the potential in yourself and others. Her story serves as both solace and strategy for anyone who has ever felt left out, unseen, or ostracized; anyone interested in upending cycles of exclusion; and for those interested in reclaiming our agency in the ongoing quest to thrive and belong.

Denise argues that bringing your truest self to work—from wearing your beloved locs to sharing your artistic passion—and, in turn, holistically seeing the attributes others have to offer is not a passive experience; it is a specific skill we can and should build. And the result is a deeper understanding of what it means to be inclusive and powerfully human on the job.

About the Author

---

After more than a two-decade career at Apple in a series of executive roles, including the company’s first Black chief of human resources and first VP of inclusion and diversity, Denise Young then served for three years as executive-in-residence at Cornell Tech in New York City. Denise has been named a “Most Powerful Woman” by Black Enterprise, an Ebony “Power 100,” and one of the “100 Most Influential in Silicon Valley” by Business Insider, and she has been featured in Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women” issue. She currently advises organizations on culture, leadership, and inclusive environments. A practicing performing and recording artist, Denise is an advocate for artists, for living a creative life, and for the unleashing of all that can happen when we see and are seen.

Praise For…

---

“[Denise’s] perspective is timeless, unique, and the only way to truly create a culture that inspires the best in people and organizations. You will enjoy reading this book and benefit as a business leader but mostly as a member of the human race.”—Ron Johnson, business leader Apple, Target, JCPenney

“[Denise’s] understanding of cultures and the way they form and evolve is extraordinary.”—Jony Ive, chancellor of Royal College of Art

“When We Are Seen serves as a life raft for those of us who are simply keeping our heads above water in an ocean of sociocultural complexities within corporate communities across the world.”—Indira Etwaroo, director of the Steve Jobs Theater

“When We Are Seen demystifies iconic brands like Apple and humanizes the story of extraordinary accomplishment. In a time [where] we need to invest in leaders more than ever, Denise offers us a masterclass in empathy.”—Seth Goldenberg, Chief Design Innovation Officer, ImagineCo

“It’s not surprising that the first Black woman to rise to the C-suite of one of the world's most storied tech giants has her own powerful story to tell. This book will make you think differently about the world and your ability to make it better.”—Caroline Clarke, author of Take a Lesson

“Raw, authentic, and introspective—Denise Young pulls back the curtain on her time as a C-suite executive at Apple, demonstrating resilience and empathy characteristic of her leadership. A must-read for anyone struggling to bring their true leadership self to the workplace.”—John Baird, bestselling coauthor of Leading with Heart and executive coach at Apple

“Denise Young—a pioneer—has taken the time to give us a peak behind the curtain and a view of how to be successful while maintaining one’s integrity and grace. This book is a must-read.”—Terence Blanchard, Grammy award–winning musician and composer

“Denise Young’s luscious When We Are Seen resides at the tender intersection of two powerful human emotions—to be seen and to see. And ultimately, to work together to build a future big enough to hold us all.”—Keith Yamashita, founder of SYPartners and The Institute for Moral Imagination

“Denise Young is a pioneer, in the truest sense of the term. That she had chosen to share parts of her journey in this work should likewise prove inspiring for all those who read it.”—Delroy Lindo, actor, producer, and director

“Denise is a natural storyteller whose downhome and straightforward manner makes this book a pleasure to read.”—Wynton Marsalis, musician

“Rarely, like one in a million, a talent comes along that is magnanimous in multiple disciplines. I would describe this book as one that captures such in Denise Young.”—Henry Threadgill

“Thoughtful reflections on race, gender, and human connection.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Stirring . . . Unlike many other DEI volumes, this book defends inclusivity as an end in itself, rather than a means to higher retention or profits . . . This stands out in the crowded field of business memoirs.”—Publishers Weekly