Interviewer: What led you to pursue a career advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Tony: A deep appreciation for the power of diversity has always been an integral part of who I am. My parents immigrated from Peru to the United States and, throughout my childhood, exposed me to a wide range of diverse cultural experiences. As a first-generation Hispanic American, with a love for my Peruvian heritage, I always look to understand and value the unique ethnic and cultural experiences of people I come in contact with.
I've been in the DEI field for about 15 years and joined Sodexo in 2021. My role is focused on helping us localize our global DEI strategy in a way that resonates with our employees in the United States. It's really important for us to foster a culture of inclusion, that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work. That means being accountable for our actions. It means achieving a diverse and equitable workforce, that reflects the communities that we serve. It’s also incredibly important for us to address equity within the company. Employees in marginalized and underrepresented communities don’t always have the same opportunity for advancement. How do we equip everyone with the tools and resources to compete on an equitable playing field?
Interviewer: What made you consider joining Sodexo?
Tony: What attracted me to Sodexo initially is not what necessarily keeps me here today. What first attracted me was the company's strong global reputation for diversity, equity, and inclusion. What keeps me here today is the warm and inviting work environment. Sodexo employees are incredibly talented and experienced, and the level of motivation and passion they have for doing the right thing is often difficult to find in a large multinational organization.
Interviewer: You identify as a gay cis-man. How do you think your experience coming out differs from the experience your peers might have today?
Tony: I came out in my early 20s at a time when “gay rights” was still an emerging movement in many respects and identifying as LGBTQ+ could have significant consequences. That in no way is meant to lessen the impact of today’s coming out experience to family, friends, and colleagues. It’s a fraught decision at any time! Like many others, the reactions when I came out were on a spectrum - some positive, others not.
It's a very different world now than when I initially came out. There's a lot more emphasis now on the concept of intersectionality. For example, I identify as a gay Hispanic male, however I can't say that being gay is more important than being Hispanic. All of that is part of my identity. Intersectionality helps us better understand that each of us comes to the table proud of a wide range of social identities. It's our responsibility as a company to help us create an environment where employees feel that they can come into the company and be their authentic selves. They can bring every social identity to the workplace, feel proud, and leverage it in their work experiences. I know we're not there yet. It's great to be able to target and strategically focus on these challenges and opportunities.