Why representation matters: Celebrating Pride at Benchling
This June, as we celebrate Pride Month, we share the stories of several Benchlings, who describe in their own words why representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace is so important. From their experiences at Benchling and elsewhere, these five individuals describe the most successful ways companies are creating queer-inclusive cultures.
The work of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment takes intentionality and continual commitment — and is essential for everyone to feel respected, connected, and supported at work. Together, we celebrate our queer community, we stand with our queer community, and we acknowledge the consistent effort required to foster a culture of belonging and understanding.
Christopher Wrenn
Engagement Manager, Boston | He/him/his
What’s it like working at Benchling?
Working at Benchling has been both challenging and rewarding. I love that I am learning something new almost every day and I am constantly in awe of the caliber of talent within the company. Everyone here is extremely driven and really rallies around the mission. I truly enjoy coming to work everyday.
Why is visibility of those who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace important to you?
To me, visibility and a celebration of diversity within a company shows the type of environment they want to build. I want to work somewhere that creates opportunities for all individuals and lets people bring their authentic selves to work. This creates space for different perspectives and deeper, more authentic relationships in the workplace.
What are some of the most successful ways you’ve seen companies build a more inclusive workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community?
Employee resource groups (ERGs) are always a great place to start to give diverse voices visibility and an opportunity to connect. I also think it's important to have visibility of diversity in leadership positions and create mentorship opportunities within a company to create pathways for career development. I remember when Tim Cook of Apple became the first Fortune 500 CEO to be openly gay, it was a huge moment and inspiring!
How will you be celebrating Pride this year?
I just moved back to the Boston area after almost 20 years in Chicago so I am looking forward to exploring what Pride in New England looks like. Something tells me it will include rainbows, lobsters, and Dunkin Donuts.
* Chris also co-leads Bloom, our employee resource group for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies.
Johnny Truong
Academic Evangelist, San Francisco | He/him/his
What’s it like working at Benchling?
Benchling has been one of the most inclusive places that I’ve had the pleasure of working for. Whether it was a 100-person company back then or the 800-person that it is now, I still feel heard as an individual and feel secure that there are queer spaces meant for me here.
Why is visibility of those who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace important to you?
Seeing peers and managers that can openly express themselves without fear of discrimination or humiliation allows me to be my best self at the workplace. I can ideate, create, and execute my work to the fullest because I’m not preoccupied with hiding who I am.
What are some of the most successful ways you’ve seen companies build a more inclusive workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community?
In my experience, it all starts with increasing the diversity of candidates we bring into our recruiting pipeline. It’s a ridiculous myth that companies somehow sacrifice talent to promote diversity. Our recruiting team is doing an amazing job of acquiring top candidates in spaces for queer and underrepresented groups.
How will you be celebrating Pride this year?
I’ll be celebrating with a close-knit group of friends with the return of the San Francisco Pride Parade, one of the oldest and largest Pride celebrations in the US. We became friends after I moved to the Bay over 8 years ago and have since been a pillar of love and support for one another.
Monica Cuyong
Technical Recruiter, San Francisco | She/her/hers
What’s it like working at Benchling?
Fun, empowering and inspiring! We have an amazing team that is passionate about their work, generous with their time/resources and know how to have a good time!
Why is visibility of those who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace important to you?
Code switching and masking are incredibly draining and can be stressful. Knowing I have a community at work allows me to show up in my most authentic self and empowers me to focus my energy and efforts towards producing my best work. It also allows me to recognize, support and appreciate folks in my work community that might need the extra lift.
What are some of the most successful ways you’ve seen companies build a more inclusive workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community?
Support the communities and organizations that help LGBTQIA+ folks thrive. If the community within the company is important, so is the community that exists outside of the company. Providing resources and safe spaces for heavy discussions around unconscious bias, microaggressions or processing what’s been happening in the news surrounding those communities. Also, compensating ERG leaders and providing a budget to create meaningful programming. The time spent building inclusive culture at the company is invaluable and these folks are doing it on top of their regular work.
How will you be celebrating Pride this year?
We’re going to Disneyland! Well, not just for Pride but grad season is well underway so we’ll be spending lots of time celebrating with family. Benchling also hosted a virtual booth at the Lesbians Who Tech and Allies Pride Summit this year. It was an amazing event and we had so much fun meeting new people and making connections with the community. <3
Packy Gallagher
Software Engineer, San Francisco | He/him/his
What’s it like working at Benchling?
Working at Benchling has been phenomenal — the work is important and interesting, but the key thing is that I'm surrounded by intelligent, motivated, and kind people. At a professional level, this means I am inspired to do my best work, while having room to experiment, learn, and importantly fail. In having that freedom I have grown more as a professional, and faster, than at any other job I've had before. On a personal level, I find a lot of joy from being around my coworkers; we have a lot of fun interactions and interesting conversations. Close to my heart is Bloom, Benchling's LBTQ+ ERG. Being involved in Bloom has been a tremendously gratifying experience as I've been able to meet, have regular interactions with, and see the career growth of my queer colleagues, giving me a sense of community and inspiration at work.
Why is visibility of those who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace important to you?
Representation in the workplace is very important to me because work is such a huge part of our lives. When I think of representation where you see it most often — in media — it tends to focus on some very particular aspects of queer life that don't represent the whole picture. It's often based on social interactions, not work; when it is based around work, it leans into stereotypes and industries or positions that have high concentrations of LGBTQIA+ people. Seeing fellow members of my community working and contributing at various levels of seniority and leadership, just like everyone else in my industry, makes me feel like there is in fact a place for me in this world.
What are some of the most successful ways you’ve seen companies build a more inclusive workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community?
The most successful inclusive workplaces are ones that in fact include people — by actively recruiting and hiring people from historically underrepresented groups, like the LGBTQIA+ community, and then giving them space to build a community and solidarity with each other. But it doesn't stop with my community; selective inclusion isn't really inclusion, so the company should also be actively trying to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion across all groups. Companies that genuinely recruit a diverse employee base, empower their employees to commune with each other, and listen to and address their concerns are the ones that will best attract and retain their talent — queer or otherwise.
How will you be celebrating Pride this year?
I will be celebrating pride with jubilation this year, finally being able to attend some in-person events. I plan on attending the Pride parade in San Francisco before dancing the night away. I will be going out of my way to be friendlier and chattier with friends and strangers, pushing past any social anxieties or barriers, to try to make new and stronger connections with my community. My partner and I are also re-planning our wedding after it was postponed due to the pandemic. Arranging a celebration of our love is itself a powerful act of pride, especially since for our first 5 years together we could not legally get married where we lived.
Robel Yemiru
Head of Build Operations, San Francisco | He/him/his
What's it like working at Benchling?
Fun. Intense. Curious. Affable. It’s a solid bunch of people motivated by the mission, focused on helping customers do their jobs better. The fun part is that our customers work in laboratories across industries. Every day is a learning day.
Why is visibility of those who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace important to you?
This question immediately makes me think of queer folks in leadership. There are two parts for me: Knowing that it can be done, and believing that I can do it. Knowing it can be done means that a queer person of any ilk, genderqueer or femme queen, can achieve success in their chosen field. Believing that I can do it means that I can stand on the shoulders of my predecessors to achieve my highest goals. Both of these happen at the same time; I stand on others’ shoulders as people stand on mine.
I feel this kinship with strivers of many backgrounds, particularly those who are trying to build a world that does not yet exist. That’s the power of seeing which turns into believing.
What are some of the most successful ways you’ve seen companies build a more inclusive workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community?
Companies have to live their values in order for them to matter. Queer experience spans from celebratory through somber, and it matters for companies to show up in all of those seasons. I worked at a place that had an annual drag fundraiser, and folks in the executive team as well as employees of all levels sang karaoke and let loose together. To me, inclusion is cultivated when a diverse group of people feel comfortable being themselves together. It doesn’t mean always agreeing, but it does mean feeling welcome. I encourage leaders and companies to keep the pride energy going all year long.
How will you be celebrating Pride this year?
I’m always looking for more reasons to celebrate. For the first weekend in June, I’ll attend a fashion show and music set at SOMArts spring fundraiser. Frameline46, the longest running queer film festival, kicks off in mid-June. I’m excited to see Black As U R on Juneteenth and Last Dance. This year’s festival is made even more special as it is the Castro Theatre’s 100-year anniversary. Hard French always throws a good party, as does the monthly drag show at Oasis called Reparations. The de Young fills their gallery with flowers for about five days — go if you can swing it. But my favorite thing to do is unplanned fun, outside, with new acquaintances and old friends. Dolores and Golden Gate Park are lovely for that.
