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Was it easy opening up about your sexual orientation in the workplace and/or to family/ friends?
Opening up about my sexual orientation in the workplace did not take me long, because I felt seen amongst my peers. I am very lucky to work within a team of queer individuals and vocal allies.
What do you think are some of the key challenges the younger LGBT community face?
I think cutting through the noise of everyone telling you what you should be, that’s the challenge.
Do you feel your sexual orientation has ever created barriers to your career, or seen you treated adversely?
Being a graduate, I am very early on in my professional career, but my identity never felt like a barrier. I remember discussing Prism during my interview for my current position, so I felt seen prior to ever receiving a job offer.
How important do you think it is to have visible LGBTQ+ role models within Jacobs?
I think it’s paramount to have visible LGBTQIA+ within the workplace. It’s not enough to show our community exists in the workplace but to see individuals in senior roles and thriving gives the younger community hope.
How do you find being LBGTQ+ and working at Jacobs?
I feel like an equal to my peers. I have spent the first 23 years of my life in Glasgow, Scotland so to be able to move to Manchester for Jacobs and live 100% authentically is very liberating.
What barriers or challenges do you feel you have overcome in your career?
I’ve overcome the barrier of feeling the need to withhold pieces of my identity that are most important to me. Very early on I realised that there’s work to be done to break the stigma of keeping your work life and personal life separate. “Bringing your whole self to work” is exactly what it says on the tin. Being able to overcome this has allowed me to throw myself into Prism and be a part of something special.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I’d say I’m most proud of being a part of the Prism community. Having only worked at Jacobs for roughly 7 months, its amazing to say I have kickstarted a media club with another colleague as well as attending our JEN summit and being involved in driving conversation to grow the community.
What advice would you give to an LGBTQ+ person starting their career within our sector?
Definitely join Prism and/or the other JENs within Jacobs. Whether you are out or have yet to do so, Prism welcomes you to feel seen and listen to like-minded individuals share their incredible stories and experiences.
Calum’s recommendations
I’d have to recommend the book I’m reading/obsessing over just now. The book is ‘Young Mungo’ by Douglas Stuart. Maybe I’m bias as it’s set in Glasgow but it’s an honest look into conforming to society, the meaning of masculinity. I’m a sucker for love and this book has won me over.
I’d recommend Disney’s Luca, I disagree with anything the director says about this not being a coming-of age queer animated movie. In my eyes, it is exactly that!
I’d be doing myself an injustice if I didn’t use this opportunity to plug my love for Beyonce! She released an album ’The Gift’ not long before lockdown that pays homage to black cultural history. An undercelebrated piece of work if you ask me.
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