Before she decided she needed to become more comfortable talking about her personal life at work, Christine Crespo was introverted and kept people there at arm’s length.
“I was always afraid of what people would think, what they would do – and the reality was most of it was positive,” says Chris, director of the Americas Inclusiveness Center of Excellence at Ernst & Young LLP.
She started with the company in 1988, but it wasn’t until a two-year stint in Washington, DC, about ten years later that she felt more comfortable out at work.
A co-worker from California noticed her “roommate” – who was actually her partner Jane Switzer – and asked Chris if they could talk about it.
“It was someone giving me the permission that first time that helped me learn how to give people permission in the future,” she says.
Chris, 47, of New Castle, founded the worldwide firm’s Beyond Network in 2003, a resource network for LGBTA employees that works to integrate LGBTA inclusiveness into Ernst & Young’s departments like recruiting and development.
She also acts as chairwoman of the board for the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
Chris says she encourages co-workers to take the “personal journey” toward being out, in order to keep from limiting their personal and professional potential.
“As an inclusiveness director, it is even more important that I be as authentic as possible because so much of the work I am doing is built on trust and relationships,” she says.
Being out as LGBT can be as important as being “out” with other personal details like being a parent or introvert, as those affect the way she relates to others.
“Companies benefit more from the ideas and innovation that are brought forward by diverse experiences,” she says.
Once she had children with her partner, the conversation often turned to the relatable subject of parenting. “You never want your kids to be ashamed of where they come from” so she was more comfortable talking about her and her partner’s family life.
She says proudly featuring leadership experiences with LGBT organizations on a resume can combine professional development with personal fulfillment. If questions for a future employer about partner benefits or work environment go unanswered or even unasked, then reconsider those opportunities, Chris says.
“If you don’t feel comfortable asking those questions of an organization, that’s probably not an organization for you,” she says.
Now, Chris’s children have attended events like the Out & Equal Workplace Summit last year in Baltimore.
Living authentically is worth it, she says, and being out at work helps merge work and home lives into one and the same.
Thank you Chris Crespo for being such a great leader and role model for Pittsburgh’s LGBT community!
