A strong case for mixing business and culture. One example of a company committed to—and benefiting from—a culture of equality is Mastercard. Its stock soared over 35 percent last year, and the We’re in an industry where technology and company is growing rapidly here and abroad as it innovation flow around you all the time. If you focuses on ushering in a cashless society. Mastercard surround yourself with people who look like you, President and CEO Ajay Banga leads with a walk like you, talk like you, went to the same compelling metaphor: “I will create the feeling of my schools as you and had the same experiences, hand at your back, not in your face, and then you you’ll have the very same blind spots. You’ll miss should run with it. When you’re on a level playing field, the same trends, curves in the road and you can win what you’re capable of winning—and you opportunities.” deserve every single win that you get.” “Diversity is built into the core of what we do,” Ajay Banga, President and CEO, Banga says. Indeed, the company boasts twice the Mastercard number of women in leadership as other companies in the S&P 500. 6 GETTING TO EQUAL 2019: CREATING A CULTURE THAT DRIVES INNOVATION