Pronouns aren't just about "progress" or "wokeness." In a highly distributed environment with colleagues from around the globe, it can be challenging to infer someone's pronouns based solely on their name, especially when you're not familiar with names from different cultures.

For instance, I often struggle to determine how to address someone from a non-Western country. Even within Western countries, names can be confusing—like "Michele," which is female in French and male in Italian. Pronouns provide clearer information than "gender" because gender is personal information that remains private, and you don't need to concern yourself with it. Simply use the pronouns they provide, and that's it—no conflict, no confusion.