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We have been celebrating Diversity all month long, and today we are celebrating our DSD/BDR Manager, Suellen Smith. Suellen is 1/4 Choctaw and very proud of her indigenous heritage. She has many memories of her Native American Grandmother telling her stories and believes this is also where her love of nature and beading comes from. Suellen is a member of the Women’s Inspiration and Inclusion Network (WIIN) and the Co-Chair of our Veterans Associate Resource Group. Her Father is a Veteran and her hero, she has a very strong allyship with Veterans. Suellen shared her personal experience with Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion early in her career “I was not held in the same regard as the male counterparts around me with the same expectation. I let it hamper me for a few years and I caught myself backing down or lowering my expectation because I wanted to be liked and be a part of the team. When it got to be too much, I reached out to a female manager that I respected and thought highly of, for some advice. I listened carefully and followed her advice. I persevered and have been able to move forward in my career.” Because of her personal experiences, Suellen encourages Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in her role by being a huge advocate for teamwork, saying “No matter what field you are in there is someone or some group that feels left out. A lot of times it is not intentional but can still be hurtful. To have a successful work life balance everyone needs to feel like they are part of the team. Having diversity groups gives a platform to become an ally and point out where those unintentional biases can cause separation in the team.” Thank you for sharing your point of view and thoughts Suellen!
