Adrien Semail
The Autodesk Pride Network employee resource group (ERG) began informally in San Francisco in 2014, when Autodeskers Danny Ryan and Michael MacDonald sought to organize a Pride month celebration within Autodesk. Despite the lack of an official employee resource group or dedicated resources at the time, Danny and Michael remained steadfast in their belief that Autodesk would support their initiative.
Driven by determination and conviction, they embarked on a mission to secure a spot for Autodesk in San Francisco’s Pride parade. Through their efforts, a remarkable float design was created, and a global competition was launched to engage Autodeskers worldwide in expressing what Pride meant to them. The winning submissions were incorporated into the float, and the winners were flown to San Francisco to join in the parade. As a result of all these endeavors, the Pride Network ERG was eventually formally established.
In Danny’s own words: “While we understand that Pride is so much more than a parade, we were happy to leverage the focusing power of Pride parades to ignite the creation of the Autodesk Pride Network. Witnessing its growth across the Autodesk world fills us with awe and gratitude. Together, we continue to celebrate and embrace the boundless spirit of Pride, shaping a more inclusive future for everyone.”
A catalyst for career growth and impactful change
In addition to my role as a senior recruiter at Autodesk, I currently serve on the Autodesk Pride Network board as its global co-lead and partnerships lead. There were two main drivers that drew me to join the board: First, the chance to have an impact, and second, the opportunity for professional development.
Being on the board has provided professional experiences I would not have experienced in my day job. Part of my role as the external engagements and partnerships lead for Pride Network has been to identify external organizations that could help Autodesk attract and retrain LGBTQ+ talent. Identifying, vetting, and nurturing this partnership with my colleague Querida Xie from Diversity Programs and Partnerships was a unique experience where I could draw on my knowledge as a recruiter but also extend it to the area of diversity and belonging.
Serving on the Pride Network board has also allowed me to develop my leadership skills. When leading others, you must resist the urge to be hands-on all the time and enter every conversation. I’ve been learning what it means to communicate an overall strategy, as well as creating processes and adopting tools that will enable decision-makers and allow leadership to focus on the bigger picture.
The importance of celebrating Pride Month in the workplace
Autodesk celebrates Pride Month globally in partnership with Autodesk Pride Network. With this year’s theme of “Celebrating Authenticity,” we will host a series of global and regional events throughout the month of June, commending the resilience of the LGBTQ community and celebrating wins across the globe that bring us closer to full equality.
Celebrating Pride Month is important – especially at work – because I firmly believe we need to accept and celebrate what makes us diverse in the workplace. I remember being in middle school and being bullied for being gay – this led me to self-silencing. “Should I say that I like this idea, or will people think I’m gay?” was a regular thought that crossed my mind. If employees are discouraged from sharing their thoughts due to fear of judgment, it will diminish the overall effectiveness and innovation of the company.
A few years ago, my team at Autodesk decided we would participate in Barcelona Pride – I remember the energy, enthusiasm, and pure grunt work that went into making it happen. What I remember most is what one of my colleagues said: “It’s so important that we do this because we need to send the message that you are welcome here no matter your sexual orientation or gender identity.” For someone to say that so explicitly was so impactful for me. It shaped my personal philosophy around D&B, that no one should be made to feel irrelevant, less-than, or unimportant because of ANY inherent or acquired trait. And that we should say that loud and proud and actually celebrate our diversity, not just accept it.
Be part of the conversation
When it comes to the future of Autodesk Pride Network, I’m most excited about creating and implementing a strategic realization plan for the ERG, which will not only define the impact we want to achieve but also do so in a measurable way. I’m also looking forward to activating local chapters in the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions, as we have great leaders there who will further the impact of our ERG. Lastly, I plan to be thoughtful about the member experience in the next year to create more numerous and clear pathways to get involved.
Joining Autodesk Pride Network means joining the conversation, whether you identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. For those who do, you will be able to connect with others who share similar experiences – through events, communication channels, mentorship groups, and more. For allies, you will be able to learn from your LGBTQ+ colleagues about our experiences and how you can be an ally. If you’re looking to have even more of an impact, you can volunteer for one of the committees under one of our board members – or who knows, maybe even join our board!
Learn more about Autodesk’s employee resource groups here.
