Celebrating Pride Through Action: ESW x myGwork
Our employee engagement surveys consistently highlight diversity and inclusion as areas that matter deeply to our people. That’s why we’re committed to continually strengthening our efforts and ensuring that inclusion remains embedded in our culture. One way we’ve done this is through our partnership with myGwork, the leading business community for LGBTQIA+ professionals.
Each year, myGwork hosts WorkPride, a global event that brings together organisations and professionals to discuss inclusion and equality in the workplace. This year, ESW was proud to be represented by our Talent Acquisition Partner Teresa Salazar Garcia-Rosales, who joined a panel discussion focused on addressing unconscious bias at work. Following the event, we spoke with Teresa about the panel and celebrating Pride Month.
What was the key message you hoped attendees would take away from the WorkPride panel?
The key message I hoped to get across is that it’s impossible to eliminate unconscious bias. Prejudice is deeply ingrained in society, and whether we like it or not, we all carry biases. Sometimes we’re aware of them and can actively challenge them, and sometimes we’re not. That’s why it’s so important to build processes that make it harder for bias to influence our decisions. When a problem is structural, the solution must be structural too.
What practical steps can organisations take to address unconscious bias?
From a Talent Acquisition perspective, one of the most important things organisations can do is create an inclusive hiring process. Having clear, objective criteria for each role and understanding which requirements are truly essential helps ensure candidates are evaluated fairly. Equally important are strong anti-retaliation measures, so people feel safe reporting biased or discriminatory behaviour without fear of negative consequences.
Why is the relationship with myGwork an important part of ESW's inclusion and belonging strategy?
Research shows that members of the LGBTQIA+ community experience disproportionately higher rates of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. For individuals with intersecting marginalised identities, such as LGBTQIA+ people of colour or transgender individuals, those challenges can be even greater. Every organisation has a role to play in helping create change.
Our partnership with myGwork provides access to specialist inclusion training and helps us connect with diverse talent through their job platform. Just as importantly, it sends a clear message to the LGBTQIA+ community and allies that we take inclusion seriously and that ESW is a place where people can bring their whole selves to work.
As we celebrate Pride Month, what does creating an inclusive workplace mean to you personally?
As a lesbian who hasn’t always felt safe being out at work, creating an inclusive workplace is deeply personal to me. I’m fortunate to be able to live openly today without fear, but not everyone in our community has that same experience. That’s why I’m passionate about helping build workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be themselves. We all deserve the opportunity to live and work authentically.
At ESW, we know that building an inclusive workplace is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Through partnerships like myGwork, meaningful conversations, and the everyday actions of our people, we’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Because when people can be themselves, they can do their best work, and that’s something worth celebrating every day.
