Coinbase has me thinking a lot about NASA in the 1960's and 1970's. In particular, NASA's approach to women and Black Americans during a deeply politically charged era of this nation's history.

NASA is different, I know. They are a government entity.

NASA also had its issues. Yes, I am aware of Wernher von Braun.

But NASA also did much to tackle the social issues of its day while putting astronauts on the moon. NASA's proactive stance did not seem to detract from it's ability to achieve massive breakthroughs in science and engineering.

NASA actively funded educational initiatives for Black engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and astronauts.

NASA, being based in the South, was constantly in thorny situations with local politicians and what I can only call hate groups.

From what I know of NASA's history, though, it did not often shy away from these conversations, but tackled them head on in the interest of doing what was right. While also putting an astronaut on the moon.

I don't think that companies need to encourage employees to spend their workdays debating political issues. But I do think that, as happened at NASA, navigating the thorniness of politics is what leadership is there for. So employees don't have to.

Many of the interviews of and histories written about the Black engineers, scientists, and astronauts at NASA in the '60's and '70's not that these people did not necessarily think of themselves as activists.

Maybe that was the sign of true leadership from the top? That they didn't have to?