Create belonging: Spotlighting Vets@

Vets@ is one of Pinterest’s eight employee resource groups that creates a culture of belonging and community across our global workforce. In this Life at Pinterest Blog, learn more about the Vets@ group, the activations they hosted to commemorate Veterans Day and meet one of their global leads. 

The Vets@ community 

Vets@ is Pinterest’s Pinclusion Group for Veteran employees and allies. The group supports and honors Veterans and highlights the value that they can bring to the workforce. Vets@ hosts events to help share the Veteran experience within Pinterest and supports local communities through volunteer and fundraiser events for organizations. 

Recognizing Veterans Day 

To recognize Veterans Day this year, Vets@ hosted an inspiring discussion with Tracy “JackieO” LaTourrette, Colorado’s First Lady Fighter Pilot. Tracy shared her military experience as a fighter pilot, discussed resiliency expressed in a usable framework and detailed how high performing teams in the military practice can bring these experiences to the workplace.

Additionally, Joe Ordona (Sr. Director, Physical Security and Vets@ Global Lead) and Brodie Gullic (Software Engineer II and PIndigenous Global Lead) supported the Swords to Plowshares 50th Anniversary Veterans Day event in San Francisco. Swords of Plowshares is the oldest Veteran nonprofit in the Bay Area, providing resources, advocacy and housing hundreds of unsheltered Vets.

In our global offices, TV displays spotlighted our Veteran employees and honored their service. It was a great way for employees across the business to learn more about our Veterans, their service and journey to the company. 

Inspiring achievements

We are immensely proud to share that Vets@ was awarded a prestigious recognition award by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, alongside the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel. The award ceremony, held at the historic Mansion House in Dublin, celebrated our team’s relentless dedication and impactful fundraising activities throughout 2024. Representing Vets@ at this memorable event were Paul Hammond, Richard O’Neill and Patrick Finucane from Pinterest Dublin. 

This recognition is not just an award; it is a testament to the collective effort, passion, and commitment of our global team, supporters, and the wider community who believe in and champion our cause. We’d like to express a heartfelt thank you to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, to Paul Clarke and the members of the 2nd Battalion Veterans Association for this incredible honor.

Member spotlight

My name is Lorraine Ledwidge, and I’ve been at Pinterest for two and a half years, working on the Travel Team. I’m based in Ireland, and I’ve spent my entire career in travel. For me, the journey to Pinterest felt like manifesting something truly good. I always believed in the power of envisioning what you want, and joining Pinterest has been one of the best things to happen to me.

Finding My Place in the Vets@ Community

Alongside my role, this year I had the incredible honor of joining the Vets@ community as a Global Co-Lead. It’s been a journey of growth, connection and inspiration. When I joined Pinterest, I was eager to get involved with one of our employee resource groups and was drawn to Vets@ because of a personal connection to Veterans. My granddad served as a sonar operator in World War II, and his stories captivated me as a child, sparking a deep respect for Veterans and their experiences. Initially, I wasn’t sure if I could be part of Vets@ without a military background, but after speaking with a colleague, I learned that allies are welcome too. That conversation solidified my decision, and the journey since has been nothing short of amazing.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet incredible people who inspire me daily, and I’ve been able to take on projects that have pushed me forward in my career and my understanding of what true support and allyship means. This role has given me a new appreciation for the strength of community, and I’ve seen firsthand how powerful our group can be when we come together with a shared purpose. Looking ahead, I’m passionate about growing Vets@ even further. I believe that by welcoming more allies and Veterans into our circle, we can amplify our impact, expand our support and make this already powerful community even stronger.

To Veterans around the globe, thank you for your service.