Investing in our former ERG Leads

Being a Global Lead for one of our Pinclusion Groups (PG), or employee resource groups, comes with the opportunity to create belonging across the company, grow your leadership skills, celebrate your community’s identity and encourage collective action. Even after our leads complete their tenure, the partnership with the Inclusion & Belonging (I&B) team remains, and the team finds ways to re-engage former leads as their expertise continues to be invaluable. 

This year, the I&B team offered former ERG leads the opportunity to attend a conference of their choice, selected from a slate of highly requested events. It was a chance to invest in their professional development and learn more about their experiences. Conferences were oriented around leadership skills, community building and allyship opportunities. There were 24 PG alumni that participated in this initiative. Learn more from a few of the participants themselves!  

Jake Flanagan

Sr. Project & Program Manager, Vendor Management, Dublin, Former Lead for Pride@ 

Working with the Inclusion & Belonging team, all the way from establishing a quorum for Pinwheels EMEA (now more widely known as Pride@) to leading as both Co-President and VP of Community Impact, has been a wonderful experience, where I felt both visible and valued. I had the privilege to contribute meaningfully and help shape our workplace culture. Being invited to attend a conference was great recognition for my past work while allowing me to presently drive positive change for my community outside of a lead role.

Kevin Lindsey

Internal Event Specialist, San Francisco, Former Lead for Pride@

When I think about the early days of my career, I remember how I would "code-switch" because I didn't feel safe/proud enough in the workplace to be gay. Fast forward to this year, I had the pleasure of attending a conference in NYC as a former co-lead for Pride@. Listening to several keynote speakers who shared similar stories made me realize it's extremely important to be your authentic self in the workplace, no matter where you're at in your career. Pinterest is a place that welcomes your most-authentic self and as a result, encourages positivity and passion into our work. 

Serena Perfetto

Sr. Technical Program Manager, San Francisco, Former Lead for Women@ 

I am very grateful to the I&B team for allowing me to attend a conference in NYC this past October. As a former Women@ lead, my choice to attend the conference was due to the importance of allyship for people with chronic illnesses. It was truly inspiring to hear the stories of resilience and braveness of the women part of the panel, "Build the life you want," especially how they were able to shift their lives and rethink goals while embracing self-care. Building connections in a different community was eye-opening, as I learned the big impact the city/place we pick as our home and workplace has on how people manage chronic illness and how they seek and find support through their allies.

Stella Marques

Sr. Strategic Partner Manager, Content, Merchants and Shopping, São Paulo, Former Lead for Pride@ 

The conference I chose to attend was a transformative experience that significantly enhanced my personal and professional growth. As a former PG Lead, this opportunity further equipped and motivated me to engage with and build for the Pride@ community at Pinterest. The event offered invaluable sessions with industry leaders and networking opportunities with fellow LGBTQ+ tech professionals. Through these workshops and discussions, I refined my leadership skills and gained insights into leveraging diversity as a key driver for success. The supportive and inclusive environment empowered me to champion inclusivity and make a meaningful impact both in the tech industry and within the Pride@ community.

Join us in building a more positive internet by exploring new opportunities on the Pinterest team. Forming connections that go beyond the workplace? It’s Possible.™