Communicate Your Worth
Name: David
Pronouns: he/him
Title: Customer Advocacy Representative
Location: New Castle, Delaware
My personal brand
I enjoy thinking creatively and being helpful and supportive of others, often sharing my best practices and helping my teammates when issues arise. Those who know me know I am an introvert, but I am one who can lead a meeting or influence others to support my case.
Me, my journey, and providing support
One of my favorite things about my identity is I am a good listener and advocate. Whether listening to a family member, friend, customer, or employee, listening is one of the best things you can do to understand someone else’s point-of-view or support someone who is going through a difficult time. It gives me the greatest satisfaction to learn my actions were able to help someone in need.
My family and pets matter to me more than anything. Growing up trying to understand my sexual orientation, I questioned if I would be understood by my family or have a family of my own that would be truly recognized. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court in the 14th Amendment required all states to grant same-sex marriages and recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states. This was a lifechanging moment for me, and I realized a happy future was possible. I came out to my family and I married my partner and best friend Michael shortly after in 2016. We now have two dogs, Bailey a miniature dachshund and Barkley a Boston terrier who we both love and spoil. I am thankful every day for my family and do not take them for granted, especially as LGBTQ+ rights are continually challenged.
As a regional leader in Discover’s PRIDE ERG, I help to create safe spaces for our employees to be their authentic selves. As a kid who was seen as nerdy and was teased, I felt I didn’t have a safe space until I started working at Discover, so I believe it is important every employee feels safe to be themselves and feel included so they can bring their best selves to work.
As a leader of our ERG’s equity pillar, I have led efforts to encourage Self ID at Discover. I feel it is so important there is a secure place for employees to share all the intersectional ways that make up who they are so the company can understand different communities’ specific needs. With this tool, leadership can identify ways to improve representation in leadership of marginalized groups so they have a voice and a space at the table.
Learning through my work and advice to my younger self
I learned I must take risks to move ahead, and when I don’t succeed, to not get down on myself, and instead have the humility to identify and share where I went wrong determine how I can improve going forward.
I’ve also learned my hard work will not advocate for me and I need to advocate for myself. For a while I thought putting my head down and focusing on being involved in important projects and producing quality work would speak for itself, but I have learned I need to speak up for myself and communicate my worth. This is also one of the reasons I support Discover’s ERGs who often advocate for those who feel they don’t have a voice or platform to speak. I started to “put myself out there” by sharing more of my accomplishments, helping our ERG host webinars, lead meetings, anything to get used to the feeling of being slightly uncomfortable. It was exciting to overcome those fears and grow personally and professionally.
My advice to my younger self would be to be kind to yourself and find your happiness. Growing up, I did not have a good relationship with my father. Being closeted when I was young, I often felt by striving to be perfect I would make up for love I felt was lacking. I was the oldest child and felt pressure to be a good role model for my brother. I thought finding happiness was being successful after college and having a great career. In 2017, my brother passed away suddenly, and my life was forever changed. I made a lateral move at work to a less stressful position and during the time I struggled with grief and depression, my relationship and mental health suffered. Through therapy and a good support system, I realized life is a gift and is shorter than we expect, and making my own happiness needed to be a priority. I now prioritize my happiness and mental health and appreciate Discover for their flexibility and benefits which have made it possible.