What advice do you have for someone who’s scared to come out at work? Coming out at work has to be a personal decision and it has to be in someone’s own time. Describe that day for us — how were you feeling? I arrived ahead of Carlos and mingled with my colleagues — most of whom were directors and vice-presidents of the company. Carlos arrived about an hour or so later, at which point I began introducing him to my colleagues. To say, I was apprehensive would be an understatement! The reception that we both received was one of warmth and welcome. As the event progressed, a few senior leaders took the time to approach me individually to say that it was a pleasure meeting Carlos and they were glad he could join the event. One senior leader in particular put her arm around me to say how happy she was to meet my wonderful partner. She then told me that she was the executive sponsor of the Whirlpool Pride network and asked me to help her to make the network an even more vital colleague resource group. She asked me to help her better represent the business of Whirlpool through the network. It was this day and this change in my life that put me on a positive path to becoming the first out chief diversity officer in the US for Whirlpool Corp a few years later.
Was it a difficult choice?
Yes, it was. But what I knew was that I would not compromise my family for the sake of my job, and it was the right decision because I underestimated the level of support that I received from my colleagues. Additionally, I found that by coming out and no longer having to cover, it allowed me to live a more authentic life overall, taking the energy and anxiety that I expelled on covering up who I was and redirecting it to living my best life.
There is a realisation in coming out that you don’t anticipate, which is you continue to come out for the rest of your life.
15
OIE MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01 | JUNE 2024
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software