Insights
Celebrating pride by empowering individuals and teams
In the spirit of this year’s Pride Month, we invited three colleagues to reflect on their workplace journey and share their experiences as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
June 2024
“State Street continues to create a work environment where anyone can thrive by bringing their authentic self to work each and every day. I am especially inspired to reflect on our past, eager to empower our present and excited by the ways we might further unite for our future,” says Donna Milrod, chief product officer and executive sponsor for our Pride network focused on LGBTQ+ support and advocacy.
Indeed, Pride Month is a time of reflection when those in the LGBTQ+ community can look back on their journeys to awareness and acceptance. It’s a time of empowerment, when all individuals can be encouraged to speak their truths and celebrated for who they are. It’s also a time to come together to demonstrate our support and create spaces in which everyone feels included and valued.
Recognizing that advocating for our LGBTQ+ employees is an ongoing process, we regularly review our programs, policies and benefits to drive awareness and ensure that we are aligned with industry best practices. Our State Street Pride and Friends Network, a global network of company leaders focused on LGBTQ+ employee support, education and advocacy, provides a space for employees to share their perspectives and increase the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community within the company.
Our “Count Me In” self-identification campaign allows employees to voluntarily share their information for gender, race, disability status, sexual orientation and preferred pronouns. We’re proud of this program as encouraging self-identification helps in understanding the diverse makeup of our workforce and enables the implementation of initiatives, policies and benefits that address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ employees, making our workplace more inclusive. Self-identification is a critical component of building a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute fully.
Being recognized on Fair360’s (formerly DiversityInc) 2024 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list1 for the third consecutive year is a testimony to our commitment in building a safe and inclusive workplace.
For this year’s Pride Month, we invited Molly Housel, Alpha Services' chief administrative officer, Maria Brzezinska, controls design and development officer, and Saptarshi Mitra, head of Billing Operations for Investment Services Americas (Asset Manager and Insurance), to a roundtable discussion about their personal journeys and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
As we celebrate Pride Month, let us remember that our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is not limited to a single month, but is a year-round, continuous journey. At State Street, we believe that when every individual is empowered to bring their authentic self to work, we all thrive. Together, we are building a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, and where our collective strength fuels innovation and excellence.
By celebrating and supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues, we are not only honoring their identities but also reinforcing our dedication to fostering an environment where diversity is celebrated, and everyone can achieve their full potential. As we move forward, let us continue to embrace our differences, and drive positive change within our industry and beyond.
