The Achieve POV: What Pride Month Means to Me

For the LGBTQ+ community, Pride Month is about recognizing the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on our history locally, nationally and internationally. It serves as a reminder and opportunity to unapologetically be yourself and live your truth with courage. It’s knowing that it’s ok to be vulnerable, unafraid and be YOU. 

Hi, my name is Jordan Figueroa. To me, Pride Month is about the celebration of authenticity and freedom to be my authentic self as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s about never forgetting the courageous pioneers who fought so hard for the rights and freedoms I have today. It’s about understanding that while there may still be hate and judgment in some folks' hearts, love is love. And I do believe love conquers all. I work hard to be the change I want to see in our world. 

I’m proud to be a Corporate Trainer at Achieve and play a crucial role in providing our new teammates with quality training that enhances their skills and leads to higher productivity levels. I am also currently serving as the Marketing and Communications Lead of our Achieve LGBTQ+ (Pride) Employee Resource Group (ERG), where I develop our ERG communications plans, collaborate with our corporate communications team to drive awareness of the ERG throughout the Company, coordinate the design of ERG event and program collateral, and maintain company-branding standards and customize materials for ERG use.

I’m an Arizonian born and raised who graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in Communication with a minor in Media Analysis. I chose those fields of study because I find human communication and media fascinating and believe that communication is closely linked to every sphere of human life. Every day, I aspire to be a positive yet practical person. I would definitely be the one to fill the glass of water when there is a debate on whether it is half empty or half full! This means I spend little time moping over an issue and instead try to innovate new and creative solutions that have the potential to make things better for others.

I am my authentic self at work

Being truly authentic in my work requires a combination of emotional intelligence and respect, understanding and listening. Being authentic in my career at Achieve involves perspective-taking, not only for myself but for others too. Our Company's core values (care, get better every day, collaboration and acting with integrity) play a big part in supporting my authenticity while at work. 

If you’re struggling to do this at work, the first step is to embrace who YOU truly are. Michelle Anne once said, “Most people show up to work with a façade of what they think others want them to be to gain acceptance. When we remove the façade and allow our true selves to come through, we begin to embark on authentic leadership. This journey starts with accepting yourself as you are. When we accept ourselves, we project relaxed confidence outward in a very trusting, impactful and sincere way. It takes courage.” 

Connecting with others and learning about their lived experiences is also helpful. Authentic individuals are typically more transparent, display more vulnerability, and do their best to communicate with and understand others at work. 

Not only do I feel supported for who I am, Achieve is constantly looking for ways to support the LGBTQ+ community as a whole with participation in local Pride events, supporting initiatives such as the Tegan and Sara Foundation, One N Ten, and The Trevor Project, converting single-use restrooms into All-gender restrooms, providing educational resources and so much more. 

Get to know our Pride ERG 

The Pride ERG will lead the effort to improve the experience and advancement of LGBTQ+ employees and their allies through professional development, mentorship and cultural leadership that celebrate and recognize diversity and authenticity as essential components of a thriving enterprise.

On July 11, we will celebrate four years as a recognized Achieve ERG with over 250 ERG members. We are so grateful for the growth we’ve had and every member of this ERG. Last year, we launched our Pride ERG Employee Resource Guide, developed in collaboration with our other Achieve ERGs. Within this document, our team members can find a variety of resources that help to support our LGBTQ+ community and allies that include information/support around: mental wellness resources, allyship resources, volunteering resources and much more.