Editors’ Note

Steve White currently serves as President, Special Counsel to the CEO, working with Comcast Cable leadership and the Company on a number of important initiatives including Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DE&I), leadership programming and development, and the advancement of digital equity in the areas of accessibility and affordability. Most recently, White served as the President of Comcast’s West Division. Prior to his role as Division President, he served as Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast California, joining in late 2007. Before his California role, he served as the Regional Senior Vice President of the company’s Mid-South Region along with leading Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast, a 24-hour regional sports network based in Atlanta. Prior to the merger of Comcast and AT&T Broadband, White served as Senior Vice President of AT&T’s Atlanta cluster from 2000 to 2002. His first assignment in the cable industry was in Chicago where he served as Regional Vice President with Telecommunications, Inc. (TCI), which was purchased by AT&T. Before joining the cable industry, White spent six years with the Colgate-Palmolive Company where he held several positions of increased responsibility. His final assignment was Marketing Director of Colgate-Palmolive’s Toothbrush Products Division. White currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Comcast Foundation, Hormel Foods, and W.W. Grainger. In addition, he has joined the Shaw Communications Board of Directors, and he is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and Delta Boule’ Denver. White earned a bachelor’s degree at Indiana University Bloomington.

Company Brief

Comcast (comcastcorporation.com) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. It is principally focused on broadband, aggregation and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. Comcast delivers broadband, wireless and video through its Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; creates, distributes and streams leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provides memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia.

How do you define Comcast’s purpose and how is purpose ingrained in Comcast’s culture and values?

Comcast connects consumers and businesses to information, entertainment, and loved ones, and the things that matter to them. The culture of Comcast is a decentralized operating model that allows local teams and organizations to customize their approach to the local audience needs and desires.

Will you highlight your role at Comcast and areas of focus?

During the past 11 years, I was President of Comcast West. I had responsibility for all cable operations in the western part of the U.S., generating over $18 billion in revenue with the assistance of 30,000 employees. I’m currently President, Special Counsel to the CEO, for Comcast Cable. I provide leadership on a number of important initiatives, including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), leadership programming and development, and the advancement of digital equity in the areas of accessibility and affordability.

How critical is it for Comcast to build a diverse and inclusive workforce in order to bring diverse perspectives to the table when making business decisions?

The focus on DE&I has been part of our DNA since our birth in 1963 but, similar to other companies, we’ve accelerated our efforts. As a company with a global footprint, we recognize the diversity of our customer base and speaking to them in an authentic way will allow us to be relevant for years to come.

What interested you in writing the book, Uncompromising: How an Unwavering Commitment to Your Why Leads to an Impactful Life and a Lasting Legacy, and what are the key messages you wanted to convey in the book?

I was inspired by the quote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why.” Once you identify your why, your approach must be uncompromising if you’re to live a life of impact, purpose, and legacy. A number of important people in my life assisted me with answering that second question. I’m simply paying it forward with the desire to assist everyone to be empowered to answer that question. Writing the book allows me to support my why, which is to create a table of prosperity for all.

The key messages in my book focus on seven pathways that have guided me throughout my adult life and helped me find my fight, live my why, and serve a greater purpose.

You mention the need to “Find Your Fight.” Will you elaborate on the seven pathways for discovering purpose?

Pathway 1 – The first step is awareness and desire. A hunger to live a life of purpose and impact. Identifying your why gives you meaning and direction. Usually, your why is revealed through reflection and adversity.

• Focus on the (real) prize. Avoiding distractions keeps you on the right road.
• Live life as a learning lab. Embracing life’s lessons keeps you alive and growing.
• Think and act like a business. Learn to invest in You Inc.
• Own your attitude and your effort. You can only control what you can control.
• Navigate uncertainty. The straight line to success is actually crooked.
• Commit to road-dog relationships. Making deposits always yields big dividends.

What do you feel are the keys to creating an organization of inclusiveness through purpose?

1. A “real” commitment from the highest levels of the organization.
2. Constant review of decisions and practices to determine if they are consistent with the purpose and values of the organization.
3. Rewards and recognition around inclusiveness.

Will you discuss your views on leading a team with purpose and intentionality in today’s evolving workplace?

Creating a purpose for your organization is critical to success today and in the future. We’re experiencing the Great Resignation; however, I refer to this trend as the Great Reset. More employees are pausing and challenging themselves to live their best life. Ensuring employee stability centers clearly around being part of something that is bigger than themselves.

When you look at your life and your ability to go from growing up in the housing projects to your success in the corporate world, what do you attribute to your success and your ability to overcome obstacles?

I believe the seven pathways outlined in my book represent the practices and beliefs that provided me with a “hand up” – not a “hand out” – from a lot of mentors to move from the housing projects to the heights of corporate America.

What advice do you offer to young people beginning their careers during this unprecedented time?

Be clear on your purpose and why. Once you’re clear on your vision for your life, focus on the journey, work hard at developing your skills (“the work”), and the results will come – but not in the way you might expect. Remember, the road to success is always crooked.

With all that you have achieved in your life, do you take moments to reflect and appreciate what you have accomplished?

Yes, every morning through reflection. The process of reflection keeps me hungry. I recognize that I’m competing against myself, and if you’re honest with yourself, you always feel you can do more and be more effective.