Syneos Health LGBTQIA+ Employee Voices

How do you identify yourself, and has that challenged you in the workplace?

I identify as gay/lesbian. In previous jobs, I have faced challenges embracing my full self in the workplace, but I haven’t faced any of that awkwardness or discomfort here at Syneos. The Patient Engagement team is truly an all-affirming family.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

My dad used to tell me, “If you want something done, ask someone who’s busy.”In my role, I am constantly juggling multiple projects and deliverables, so sometimes I’m that ‘someone busy’ but it’s also taught me how to seek out good help and partner with team members in a meaningful way to get the job done.

What are your aspirations in Syneos Health having a LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group (ERG)?  What do you hope this ERG accomplishes?

I hope this ERG helps further weave LGBTQIA+ diversity into the bigger conversations we have as an organization – in how we serve our clients, how we partner together internally, and how we support patients.

What is the one thing today a work colleague can do today to help support an inclusive work environment?

Add your pronouns to your email signature! I’ve received a surprising number of compliments on my email signature pronouns, from both clients and internal team members. I think that this is an easy thing anyone can do to help further the message that we are an open and accepting workplace.

It’s World Pride Month.  What does Pride mean to you?

I think most people think of Pride as parades and events that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, and I used to think that way, too. I’ve never been someone who strongly connected with those public celebrations, but I’ve recently realized that just because I’m not out marching in a rainbow tutu, it doesn’t mean I’m not Proud. For me, Pride has given me the gift of feeling free and open to be completely myself – with friends, family, coworkers, and clients. I celebrate my pride every day in my relationship, and I’m excited for an extra-special celebration when I marry my fiancée this July. It’s crazy to think that marrying the person I love, something I think most of us take for granted, wouldn’t have been possible less than 10 years ago. I think that shows just how far we’ve come as a society in acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals, but is also an important reminder of how much this community has had to fight for the same treatment and rights that are given without second thought to others, simply because of who we are attracted to.

How do you identify yourself, and has that challenged you in the workplace?

Identity is such a complex and fluid concept – for me, it has deepened over time. I have always been open and honest about my sexuality at work. Although challenging at times, I have always felt the support and encouragement of my leadership to be open about who I am. Over the last several years, the conversation surrounding gender has become more nuanced and gave me language to describe my identity in a way I could not before – a decoupling from the attachment to the binary I’d previously understood to be the only option. Over time (and with the help of the Pronoun Project), it became important for me to be honest about this aspect of my life as well. After some discussion with colleagues, I decided to openly add “they” to my preferred pronouns at work and live openly as a nonbinary person. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the interest in education and dialogue about this topic.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

Be honest, even if honesty is uncomfortable. Perhaps especially then.

What are your aspirations in Syneos Health having a LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group (ERG)? What do you hope this ERG accomplishes?

There are many challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community. In the United States alone, an alarming number of legislative measures have been levied against us in recent months. It is crucial now more than ever to make Syneos Health a safe and inclusive place for all of our colleagues. To this end, I hope this year we can work with the other ERGs to drive changes within the organization and create a healthy space for intersectional dialogue. I also hope that we can build a more globally-focused resource group that serves our community wherever we happen to sit!

What is the one thing today a work colleague can do today to help support an inclusive work environment?

Put your pronouns in your signature. It will serve as an unspoken symbol that you are an ally.

It’s World Pride Month. What does Pride mean to you?

To me, Pride means effort. It a choice we all make every day to show up and represent our truths. In doing so, we normalize our differences and open doors for education, dialogue, and lasting change.

How do you identify yourself, and has that challenged you in the workplace?

I’m just trying to be the authentic myself and being a gay man is one part of that. Despite some friction this causes very few times, whenever I have been less than that, that’s when the real challenges started.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

Live your life as you are. If you are trying to be someone else, no one is going to be you.

What are your aspirations in Syneos Health having a LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group (ERG)?  What do you hope this ERG accomplishes?

It is important to nurture a safe and inspiring community for those who might feel alone. But even more important is to provide a voice and guidance to continuously evolve the company (and with it, a little bit, the world).

What is the one thing today a work colleague can do today to help support an inclusive work environment?

Do not assume your version of happiness, pleasure, family, and fulfillment in life is the same for everyone. It is a lot more colorful than you think.

It’s World Pride Month.  What does Pride mean to you?

Pride for me means two things: It’s a statement of visibility, and a demand for equality. But personally, it is also an amazing experience of community.