In September, we celebrated Allyship Week at Gartner. Allyship Week is a global celebration of allies who support and empower marginalized groups in the workplace and make it their responsibility to ensure all our colleagues feel comfortable and supported.
An ally is defined as someone who is not a member of a marginalized group but advocates for those who are. Allies make efforts to aid the pursuit of inclusion and equality and offer their voice to speak up in the face of injustice.
It is essential to share our stories of allyship to help us all grow together. As part of our celebration, we asked associates what it means to be an ally and why it is important
Name: Jorge Luis Gando leal
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Title/Role at Gartner: Workplace Assistant / Event Manager
“Being an Ally means a lot to me, and you can be yourself without fear of anything and help others who have gone through the same or suffer from exclusion. Working at a company like Gartner, where the environment is inclusive, is a privilege.”
Name: Kaitlynn Orlandi
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Title/Role at Gartner: Senior Program Specialist - Gartner Peer Insights & Pride ERG Allyship Co-Chair
“I love that I work for a company where we can have open conversations around intersectionality during events like this. I enjoy working with colleagues worldwide who teach me so much about different cultures.”
Name: David Rothmund
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Title/Role at Gartner: Strategy & Operations at Gartner Digital Markets and Global Communications Chair for Pride at Gartner ERG
"Being an ally to me means that I need to listen to and support all communities' needs and foster an inclusive environment for everyone. Even looking at the LGBTQ+ community, I need to remember to be an ally for all other persons of the community, not just the one I identify with."
Name: Luis M. Fernández
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Title/Role at Gartner: Assistant Manager, Finance International
“Getting to be part of the first Gartner sponsored Pride event for the Fort Myers office held in Naples, Florida, was amazing, and then seeing the conversation continue during Allyship Week with a broader audience across all of Gartner’s associates worldwide was powerful. I thoroughly enjoyed the different perspectives and stories, which prompted me to finally sign up and volunteer for a local LGBTQIA+ Organization, something I’ve wanted to do for months.”
Name: Bill Podojil
Pronouns: he, him, his
Title/Role at Gartner: Executive Partner
“Allyship is personal - and allies should always keep the interests of the group they support top of mind. Everyone makes mistakes, whether using a wrong term or pronoun or assuming something is important to someone without asking them. We have to always keep learning!”
We thank our amazing allies for all they do. Allies in the workplace are integral to a company’s overall success, and we must continue to foster an environment that includes each and every one of us.