John Gaidoo on diversity, equity, and inclusion
From The Freedom Forum: John Gaidoo, Vice President and Senior Deputy General Counsel at Cummins Inc. · · IBJ Media
“Merit and being deserving of something, and DEI, are not mutually exclusive concepts.”
On , John Gaidoo, VP & Chief Legal Officer at Cummins, spoke about diversity, equity, and inclusion during The Freedom Forum: John Gaidoo, Vice President and Senior Deputy General Counsel at Cummins Inc. on IBJ Media.
About John Gaidoo
John Gaidoo, Vice President and Senior Deputy General Counsel at Cummins Inc., appeared on the February 2025 episode of "The Freedom Forum" podcast for Black History Month. During the interview, Gaidoo discussed his career path, noting that his military experience contributed to his maturity and that he was drawn to labor and employment law because it is "about people" and ensuring fair treatment. He stated that "merit and being deserving of something, and DEI, are not mutually exclusive concepts." Gaidoo also said that while diversity and authenticity are "more difficult," they "yield a much better result." Gaidoo expressed that Cummins "shares my values" and "really cares for people" and DEI, adding that the company gave him a platform he "wouldn't have been able to do on my own." He commented on changes in Indiana's business community, observing that people are "more willing to listen" in public forums, at least in part because companies recognize they must compete for talent with other states. Gaidoo emphasized that he speaks his truth on behalf of his children, saying that if he does not say "unpopular" things, "then my kids will have to say it and guess what that means another generation of time has been lost."