What makes you feel alive when you are doing it and why? (2021)

Empowering, supporting, and investing in the LGBTQ+ community makes me feel alive more than anything else. I was outed as lesbian during senior year at my public high school in [state] by my best friend and debate partner. No one else was openly gay in my class of 800 at the time, and sometimes the jokes were too difficult to weather. However, at the time, I was mostly ashamed of myself. Growing to love my identity as a manifestation of strength and compassion took time.

I am proud to say that I have been an active contributor of the PRIDE employee resource group since joining [firm]. Currently, I serve as an elected Co-Chair representing our 600-strong LGBTQ+ and allied membership. Together, we developed $150k+ in external partnerships and leadership development programs. At the start of the pandemic, we launched an employee giving campaign to raise $12k for immunocompromised individuals living with HIV/AIDs in [city]. In 2019, we created [firm]’s first in-house mentorship and recruitment program for LGBTQ+ students, that is now a hallmark of [firm]’s many diverse recruitment pipelines. Through PRIDE, I have helped directly recruit and hire more than 20 employees to [my department].

The individual moments of PRIDE also provide immeasurable meaning. Two of my co-workers came out to their families because of the positive influence our work has at [firm]. A senior managing director called me to find resources for his newly out, trans son. We installed the first gender neutral bathroom in our [city] office.

Overall, my journey of self-appreciation taught me the value of emotional vulnerability in both my community and work life. At Berkeley-Haas, I would invest deeply in Q@Haas to collaborate with my peers and build on the strong foundation of leadership development the group offers.