Meet the Visa Employees Bringing Pride Month to Life

June is Pride Month, the annual celebration of the LGBT community across the U.S. and around the world. See how we’re celebrating at Visa and meet the incredible employees who are keeping the Pride spirit alive.

Rainbow flags are waving, city streets are filled with floats and flags, and calendars are packed with events and activities. June is known as Pride Month, the annual celebration of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and Ally community across the U.S. and around the world. 

Here at Visa, Pride Month is an important time to recognize and support our LGBT community, as well as celebrate the unique backgrounds and perspectives of all our global employees. Our company values align closely with those of Pride – at Visa we are committed to building an inclusive culture, one where all employees feel they belong and everyone is accepted, everywhere. We are proud to have received a score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index to earn recognition as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality and are excited to continue making progress on our journey. 

This year, we’re celebrating Pride Month in a big way, with parade marches, guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and more events taking place at Visa locations from San Francisco to Seattle to Salt Lake City. 

In the spirit of Pride, we caught up with a few of the amazing Visa employees who lead our Pride Employee Resource Group and are helping us bring these celebrations to life. Keep reading to learn a little more about our proud people and discover their thoughts on Pride, inclusion, and more.

Alyssa Chen

Account Executive, Partnership Development

Visa Pride Lead, New York, NY

How are you involved with Pride at Visa?

I’m leading the Visa Pride initiatives in New York. This is the first year we are celebrating Pride in the Big Apple – marching in the parade, welcoming guest speakers, hosting happy hours and much more – and I’m thrilled to help Visa showcase our company values in one of the most diverse cities in the world.

Why is Pride Month so important?

Pride Month is a time to celebrate, honor, and fight for our LGBTQ community – past, present, and future. It’s a reminder that we should be free to live every day with integrity and honesty, as our truest selves, not just during Pride Month but all year round.

What does “Inclusion” mean to you?

Inclusion means recognizing that each individual has a unique background that adds richness to our experiences and strengthens our growth. When we celebrate uniqueness, we flourish. 

Steven Guzzo

IT Asset Management Director

Visa Pride Co-Chair, Austin, TX 

What does “Inclusion” mean to you?

Inclusion means being able to be your authentic self and be accepted and included by those around you. I like to use a quote to illustrate this: Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance (author unknown). 

What are practical ways people can demonstrate inclusion?

When in meetings, make sure everyone not only has the opportunity to speak, but also that when they do speak, their voices are truly heard. 

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of who I am and who I will become. I try to live by example and volunteer time with LGBT organizations focused on making a difference today and for the generations ahead.

Luis Sotolongo

Account Manager, CSS Account Management Team

Visa Pride Lead, Ashburn, VA

What are you most excited for this Pride Month?

I am so excited to be leading Visa’s Ashburn and Washington D.C. office employees as they march in the D.C. Parade for the very first time, representing Visa as the Preferred Card for Pride in the nation’s capital celebration!

Why is Pride Month so important?

It’s easy to get lost in all the Pride Month fun, but it’s crucial not to forget its roots. Pride is so much more than a parade. It’s a public reminder of the LGBT community’s civil rights, a vocal fight against discriminatory laws and violence, and a celebration for being out and proud.

What does “Inclusion” mean to you?

I think of Inclusion as the way to execute involvement and empowerment. It’s not enough to have a diverse environment … that’s only one part of the equation. It’s equally as important to promote and sustain a sense of belonging to make everyone feel valued.