Operations Program Manager
There is always urgent work, but working on yourself is important and needs to be prioritized. Meta Resource Groups allow us to better understand others and help each other find our voices.
After spending a decade and a half as an Air Force Instructor Pilot, it was difficult to adjust to Meta. Pilots have to remain calm in all situations, which means I learned not to be vulnerable. At times I felt like I was crashing and burning, and my manager had no idea because I looked confident and was not asking for help. I think others with diverse backgrounds experience similar pressure, because we feel that our entire minority group is judged based on our performance. Everything changed for the better once I shifted my efforts from doing what I thought was expected to working within my strengths. It was then that I realized Meta is a place where I can be my authentic self.
I’m a leader within the Pride@ Meta Resource Group and a facilitator of Lean In Circles. I am also a member of Black@ and Latin@ in order to learn about other cultures, be an ally, and inform myself to help combat unconscious bias. As a Lean In Circle facilitator, I lead small, peer mentoring groups where we discuss techniques to be more comfortable asking questions, speaking up for ourselves, being allies to other colleagues, and finding our true selves. There is always urgent work, but working on yourself is important and needs to be prioritized. Meta Resource Groups allow us to better understand others and help each other find our voices.