An Interview with Rich Mullins, SDR Manager at Workvivo
The ability to show up to work as “who we are” allows us the opportunity to communicate more, connect more, and contribute more
work. The ability to show up to work as “who we are” allows us the opportunity to communicate more, connect more, and contribute more. Work with Pride is taking these core concepts and allowing businesses and individuals that are like- minded to connect and engage with each other. Not only this, but it affords organisations a chance to level up and become a more inclusive workplace and understand the tangible actions that need to happen in order to achieve this – not just for LGBTQIA community, but what it means to be an inclusive workforce in general.
Workplace culture is very important to me, but I also find the concept of workplace culture quite challenging. Any organisation can say that they have an amazing culture and any organisation can put company values up on their website. To me, culture is the words that people speak and the actions that people take. I believe that a positive culture is one where you and your colleagues can openly communicate. You can celebrate each other’s wins but also hold each other accountable when you need to have challenging conversations. In my experience, knowing there is safety in communication leads to trust among your peers. This is crucial to a healthy and happy workplace. As a human being, I have a fundamental need to feel safe and supported at work, and to ensure my team feels safe and supported to the best of my capacity. That comes from communication. When I feel safe and supported in work, it allows me to inject “myself” into my work – helping others, coaching, showing up with energy and enthusiasm. I have seen this with my team and with Workvivo. We really encourage open, transparent communication, allowing people to show up, speak up and fail fast to succeed.
How do you plan to celebrate Cork Pride this year?
Honestly? I want to let my hair down and have some fun. It has been an intense three years navigating a pandemic. Pride for me is about expression. It’s important for me to get out with friends and family and enjoy the lighter elements of Pride: go to the parade, let my hair down, dance (or as I call it, inefficiently moving my body to music!), drink and laugh. Pride is also a time for me to be involved in the community. The older I get, it’s important for me to be involved with events that are happening. I am involved with some groups in the Gay Project (Frontrunners, Rackateers and Ramblers hiking) so I will spend time with them and join any plans they have for Pride. Finally, Pride for me is about reconnecting to our history. For example, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s is a big part of Gay history, but many people today don’t realise or understand how that has impacted and continues to impact our community today. Pride acts as a moment of reflection to connect to something that extends beyond my own peripheral vision!
What is your best advice to any young professionals in the community?
Network, network, network! Use your peer network as much as you can, both professionally and personally. This positively impacts who you are, how you feel and how you show up at work. In my experience, popular apps that are targeted towards the LGBTQIA community have their place, but can also dehumanise people. Many young professionals use them in an attempt to connect to their peers. There is an epidemic of loneliness in the LGBTQIA community, even among those that are proudly out. Life in Ireland has changed dramatically for the better in the last decade in the Gay community, but there is still so much work to be done. Despite these positive changes, loneliness and substance abuse are still on the rise. While these are inherently complex issues, connection is so important. Connect and network with your peers, as well as people that are on a similar life trajectory to you. The Gay Project has many groups that allow you to get to know to know people at a human level – The Frontrunners & Briskwalkers, Ramblers Hiking Group, Rackateers Badminton Group, Yoga, Coffee Socials, Football, Rugby, Book Club, etc. Work with Pride really is an extension of this – a digital platform that allows you to engage, connect, and share ideas with like-minded individuals all year round.
Rich Mullins is Sales Development Manager at Workvivo. Workvivo recently launched the online platform for Work With Pride, Ireland’s first LGBT+ professional networking group to engage and connect people digitally all year round.
Tell us about your own career journey.
Why do you think Work With Pride was important to launch?
I moved to Cork in 2013 having completed my master’s in Marketing at the University of Limerick. I initially joined the McAfee team in Citygate, Mahon as a Sales Development Representative. In 2015, I moved to the Malwarebytes team in Albert Quay. It was here that I got a taste of a few different roles - Account Management and Enablement before I was promoted to Manage the Sales Development team. Last February I joined Workvivo to build their Sales Development motion from the ground up and have been loving it ever since!
I think it was important to launch for a number of reasons. Many working professionals, including myself, are now missing the personal connection that we had in work pre-pandemic. Others are burned out from working harder on the frontline. In the world of work, we are currently undergoing a digital industrial revolution of sorts. More and more employees will remain remote, or hybrid. That means the lines or boundaries between work and home will continue to blur. We are human beings, and the reality is that work impacts life and life impacts
How do you sign up for Work With Pride?
I’d really recommend joining the Work With Pride community. Join in the conversation on Workvivo. Check out the website and click “join now” at https://workwithpride.ie.
Is workplace culture important to you? What do you look for in a workplace culture?
proudly supporting Cork Pride
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