Empowered Voices: Celebrating Heritage and Community with Three BOLD ERG Members
In celebration of Black History Month, we heard from three of our BOLD ERG (Employee Resource Group) members about heritage, beliefs, and finding community in BOLD at Discover.
Name: Rosalyn
Pronouns: she/her
Title: Instructional Designer
Location: Dallas TX
Who I am and what I believe in
My values and beliefs are my favorite things about my identity. By aligning my actions with my core values, I bring a sense of authenticity and purpose to my life.
I am most passionate about learning and growth because both are essential for personal and professional development, as they open doors to countless opportunities and enrich every aspect of life. Learning and growth are not just about acquiring knowledge or achieving success; they are about embracing a mindset of curiosity, self-discovery, and lifelong development that empowers us to make a positive impact in the world.
What heritage means to me
Heritage is the cultural, historical, and ancestral legacy passed down through generations. It plays a significant role in shaping our individual and collective identities, providing a sense of connection to our roots and understanding of the world around us.
The ERG impact
From the abundance of opportunities for professional development, networking, mentorship, and leadership, being a member of BOLD has been a highlight of my experience at Discover. The BOLD ERG has enriched my life by fostering a sense of belonging and consistently inspiring me to create positive change personally and professionally.
Name: Sonia
Pronouns: she/her
Title: Manager Talent Management
Location: Riverwoods IL
Who I am and how I build relationships
There are so many aspects of my “identity” that define who I am so it’s hard to just pick one favorite. I’m female, I’m Black, I’m a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother (I prefer the term G-Ma though!) and a working professional.
But I would say my favorite part of my identity is being a Black female born in the south but raised in the north. I was born in a small town in northern Louisiana but moved to Illinois when I was just 2 years old. I spent many summers down south with my grandparents who taught me a lot about my culture and family background.
I’m passionate about maintaining good relationships with everyone I interact with whether that’s in my personal life or career. I want to be someone that others can trust and rely on when they need support.
My heritage
My Black southern roots reign over many of our family traditions. Big family holidays are accompanied by a lot of southern food, reunions, and church services. There are always history lessons with the older generations, where they share stories from their days growing up in the south. It’s a meaningful time of bonding and participating in cultural activities such as singing and dancing.
The ERG impact
Being a member of BOLD ERG has helped me find a voice and place within Discover. With BOLD, not only can I fulfill my passion for giving back, but I also get to connect with other individuals who share the same demographics and life experiences as me. Between the leadership opportunities and the strong, supportive network of peers and family I have found, I feel a strong sense of belonging.
Name: Rehanna
Pronouns: she/her
Title: General Business Undergraduate Leadership Program, Corporate Risk Management
Location: Riverwoods IL
Pride in my identity and where I come from
My family comes from the little island of Jamaica, which is a major part of my identity. Being able to see how members of my family came from humble beginnings and immigrated to the U.S. to provide a better quality of life for themselves and their family has been something I’ve grown to appreciate more and more, especially as I got older.
If you come from an immigrant household you know parents love to share their experiences growing up and how our opportunities differ from what they had, my parents are not short of this – they constantly remind me of the privileges I have being born in the US, having fair and equitable access to education and the plethora of opportunities that exist for me.
My favorite thing about my identity is my Jamaican heritage – I’ll always be proud of where I come from, where my family comes from, and for my parents who gave up so much so that I can be afforded the opportunities I have today.
My heritage to me means prosperity. I love sharing my job and experience with my family members in Jamaica – because we come from a rural part of the island it can be difficult for them to wrap their heads around what I do for a living. But, when I share this with them, you can tell how proud they are. I love going back to where I’m from because it’s so grounding – being seconds from a beach, finding fruits and eating them right off the tree, taking in fresh air, and hearing the quietness of the area, the lack of lights at night making the stars shine bright.
It always makes me feel incredibly proud that I come from a little Caribbean Island and now live in a big city working for a global digital bank.
Navigating the corporate space
I learned the importance of having a strong community very early on. I’ve been blessed to cross paths with many people who have heard my story and offered to mentor me, or to just be there as guiding support if I have questions or need to have open conversations. Community is everything and I don’t know if I would be able to navigate the corporate environment without mine.
The ERG impact
Being a BOLD ERG member, and part of the BOLD leadership team has given me access to a community of support and lends me the opportunity to be a leader in a diverse community. Because of BOLD I truly feel I have a space where I can be open about how I feel and have those necessary and transparent conversations.
