At Proofpoint, our people—and the range of their experiences, perspectives and work skills—drive our success. We embrace and foster the diversity of our team members, customers and stakeholders. Everyone is valued and appreciated for their lifestyles, thoughts and talents, all of which contribute to the growth and sustainability of our business and the strength of our communities.
To support our diverse workforce, Proofpoint has Employee Inclusion Groups (EIGs). Our EIG communities serve as structured, employee-led organizations that are formally recognized and integrated into the fabric of our company. EIGs cultivate compelling conversations, workshops and activities. And they empower our employees to learn from one another and express their authentic selves.
Our Pride EIG provides an environment that encourages others through shared experiences and fosters support across recruitment, career development, community outreach, professional growth and retention initiatives.
In many countries, Pride Month is an annual and monthlong global celebration. Proofpoint stands with the LGBTQIA+ community each and every day. But we also join the world each June to recognize and celebrate the importance of inclusion and diversity at our company and in our communities.
As part of our Pride celebration, we are excited to highlight employees who have volunteered to participate as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or as an Ally. In this blog post, we feature Tracy Andrews, a remote creative services manager based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Tracy Andrews, Creative Services Manager
What does Pride Month mean to you?
To me, Pride Month means taking the time to recognize the community and simply celebrate the joy of being yourself. Everyone is unique, and that is really acknowledged during the month, creating a positive atmosphere. It also gives time and space for voices to be heard that maybe haven’t been before.
Along with that, Pride Month is a great opportunity for people to learn from others and to hear different perspectives they might not have been exposed to before.
What is one of your favorite attributes about the LGBTQIA+ community?
I really love the sense of belonging that the community brings. LGBTQIA+ encompasses such a large spectrum of people and creates inclusivity across the community, where everyone comes from such diverse backgrounds and has their own unique experiences to share.
In those experiences, you can find people who have dealt with something similar or the same as you have. That makes me feel so much less isolated or “different,” and that connection is invaluable to me. I belong, and there is a whole community supporting me.
What is something you’ve learned from the LGBTQIA+ community?
The biggest thing I have learned from the community is that there is not one specific way to be gay, lesbian, bi, trans, etc. When I was starting to come into my own identity, I thought I had to fit into these certain boxes, which felt quite restricting. But the community has shown me that everyone is unique in the way they identify, and there really are no set rules. That has been truly freeing.
What does it mean to you that Proofpoint is celebrating Pride Month?
I love that I get to work for a company that is so supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community and isn’t afraid to show that. I’m glad my colleagues don’t need to hide or keep to themselves about their identity. And seeing others—who aren’t necessarily directly involved in the Pride EIG—celebrate Pride Month really drives home that sense of being supported in the workplace.
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