Girls, Gays and Theys: Navigating Corporate America from Beyond the Margins

Bobby
Agile Coach, Cybersecurity
Remote (Delaware)
Pronouns: He/Him | They/Them

I navigate corporate structures with intention and compassion. I’m intentional about 2 things– being my most authentic self and taking up space. I thrive when I can be my authentic self and bring ideas from my unique perspective on the world. I’m intentional about taking up space because early in my career I was plagued by imposter syndrome and it caused me to shrink away from various opportunities. In recent years, I’ve learned to own my experience with greater accountability. I take up the space required to present new and fresh ideas, foster and cultivate relationships with my coworkers, and drive growth and diversity within corporate culture.

Natalie
Lead Account Specialist Billing Resolutions
New Castle
Pronouns: She/her

During my transition, I never ever thought I would see the end of the tunnel. But I grew stronger than ever and now I do. It’s all thanks to Discover, actually. They provided me with the resources I needed to make myself complete and get the care I needed. I’ve also gotten so much love and acceptance from so many people. Honestly my whole experience at Discover has been amazing. I’m openly Trans and wish I could speak to even more people within the company. I want to share my story and ensure anyone in my position knows that they have a voice. As a Trans individual, it’s rare to find a company as open as Discover— people need to know that. I do know other Trans people at Discover who don’t want to speak up. But I personally want to be seen.

Amy
VP, Compliance Advisory
Riverwoods, IL
Pronouns: She/Her

About 5 years ago, in the middle of interviewing a candidate, he pointed to a picture on my desk of my partner and I on vacation. He asked me where “my friend and I” had vacationed. I told him that the photo was of me and my partner at a theme park. He then abruptly said he hadn’t realized I was gay and that he wasn’t interested in the role because he couldn’t “work for someone like me” and literally left the interview. From this experience, a hard truth I’ve learned is that people will dislike or disrespect you for things that you cannot change.

Karlyn
Team Coach, Customer Service & Engagement Dept. Core
New Albany, OH
Pronouns: They/Them

Knowing how to navigate a professional work environment as a male or a female is learned— from binary dress codes, to learning how to navigate proper etiquette based off your birth gender. As someone who doesn’t fall under the binary gender umbrella, it was always difficult to know how to navigate those norms. After my first year of college, I was a chef. I kept to myself and always made sure I worked somewhere where the uniforms were the same. I always chose a unisex cut chef’s coat. But after leaving the industry, I was thrown into the business world without guidance on what to do.

Megan
Team Leader, Deposits Front Office
Lake Park, UT
Pronouns: She/Her

When I was first hired at Discover, I was so scared for anyone to know that I was in a relationship with a woman. I didn’t have very many positive experiences or role models that I knew of that were successful and Out. I’ve been very blessed to work for a company that I personally have never felt like my sexuality has held me back from opportunities. The environment at Discover is amazing. My management and peers have always made me feel included. A mistake I’ve made is being too cautious. Oftentimes, if I’m unsure of how LGBTQ+ friendly a situation is, when speaking about my fiancé, I use they/them pronouns or substitute “my partner” or “my fiancé.” 

Patrick
Lead AML Compliance Specialist
Riverwoods, IL
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Gradually over time, I’ve discovered opportunities to find self-acceptance by working for organizations that champion diversity. I’m now connected to people with the same passion for inclusion. I feel it’s imperative that organizations develop a safe space for individuals where everyone can be themselves and find a sense of belonging. I’ve been privileged to be a part of my organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) council, where I learn from a team of like-minded individuals and navigate topics like unconscious bias, blind spots and racial injustice. Through action and conversations like these, we can learn how to be more intentional in how we treat each other.

Chris
Team Leader, Identity Protection
New Albany, OH
Pronouns: He/Him/His

It’s hard to navigate corporate America as a black gay man. There’s always the mentality that I’ll have to work twice as hard to get half as much. So when I first started working, I kept my identity private and only told a select few. As I progressed in my career, I learned that if I hide who I am, I’m not going to be able to give 100% of what I can offer. Now I understand that my identity is major a part of who I am. It allows me to share stories and experiences that can shape the outcome of the business. In turn, I also seek out individuals at Discover who look like me. As simple as that sounds, it can be a challenge. But I’ve found so many, across different points in my career. I use them as a reference and motivation to know that I can be greater than where I am today.

Nicole
Senior Manager, Rewards Marketing
Riverwoods, IL
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

I’ve been at the Discover Riverwoods, IL headquarters for 6 years now. For the first 1-2 years, I was very selective of who I came out to and told about my personal life. When people asked who I lived with, I called my fiancé my “roommate.” At the time, I’d come out to a close friend at work who accepted and love me. She pulled me aside and said, “You have to stop doing that. No one will care about who you love and they will only love you more for being you.” In that moment, she was the best ally I could’ve ever asked for. She gave me the courage, in this new professional world, to be my full authentic self.