by Liubov Fridrikh

Hey there! Today, we’re diving into a talk by Tatiana Mac at the #PerfMatters Conference 2019. She opened by sharing a bit about her background, revealing how she got started in design at a young age and later experienced a career shift and a shift in her perspective on the power of design. Tatiana’s journey led her to uncover how privilege plays a significant role in defining performance. Let’s dig into what she had to say.

Confronting Your Privilege

Tatiana pointed out that everyone at the conference is privileged to be there. She urged the audience to acknowledge their privilege and recognize that it’s not about how hard we work, but where we start in the race. She highlighted that privilege isn’t just about race or gender, but also includes factors like wealth and physical ability. The more privilege you have, the easier it is to overcome obstacles. It’s important to confront our privilege and understand its impact on our lives and the world around us.

Admitting Your Bias

Tatiana showed how our privilege shapes our worldview and affects the experiences of others. She called out instances where the tech industry has centered on the experiences of the able-bodied and neurotypical, leading to biases and ignorance. She pointed out the importance of broadening our perspectives and seeking out media and experiences that fall outside our personal worldview. By being aware of our biases, we can create better, more inclusive experiences for everyone.

Understanding Empathy and Trust

Tatiana challenged the notion of empathy, stating that it aligns self with the center. Instead, she pushed for a focus on trust and trusting the life experiences of others over our presumptions. She argued that trust is the key to creating inclusive environments, allowing different voices to be heard and acted upon. By sharing power and giving space to marginalized voices, we can work towards building a more just and inclusive future.

Making the Choice

At the end of her talk, Tatiana issued a powerful call to action. She presented two options: take the red pill and embrace the messiness and difficulty of dismantling privilege, or take the blue pill and continue living with privilege, ignoring the impact it has on others. She emphasized the ongoing nature of this choice, urging the audience to commit to doing the right thing, even when it’s challenging.

In conclusion, Tatiana’s talk shed light on how privilege shapes our experiences and the world around us. By confronting our privilege, admitting our biases, trusting the experiences of others, and actively making choices that challenge privilege, we can work towards a more inclusive and just society.

                  **How Privilege Defines Performance, Tatiana Mac @ [#PerfMatters](<https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/perfmatters>) Conference 2019**