Pride Month is all about celebrating the diversity around us. Championing inclusivity is one of our values as a company so we sat down with three of our leaders and discussed how diversity and inclusion is practiced in Virtua Solutions. We also heard the importance of Pride Month and LGBTQ+ support for them personally.
Working with Pride at Virtua Solutions
Virtua’s leadership is always proud of its ties to the LGBTQ community. Our own co-CEO Francis Guintu is very open about his identity as well as some members of our team.
For HR Manager Lara Fuensalida, her stay at Virtua taught her a lot about the value of being open-minded. “It has helped me appreciate different life experiences and how those differences make our team stronger and more creative,” Lara shares.
Finance Head Janice Mapaye seconded the remark. “Working alongside LGBTQ+ colleagues at Virtua Solutions has given me a deeper understanding of the diverse life experiences that shape who we are. It has taught me the importance of creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and safe to be their authentic selves—without fear or hesitation.”
Janice further stressed that the working experience she had made her more empathetic to the challenges the LGBTQ+ community face. “It has inspired me to foster a more compassionate, inclusive, and supportive workplace for all,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Marketing Director Rom De Leon shared how working with LGBTQ+ colleagues helped her appreciate the fact that creativity knows no gender. “It’s amazing how wonderful the human mind (and heart!) can be when people feel safe to express their ideas without fear of discrimination because of who they are and where they come from.”
Being Proud Of Pride
The three ladies also expressed how much Pride Month has come to matter to them. For Rom, it’s all about fulfilling their life’s purpose. She explains that everyone should not be held back from living that purpose because of who they are: worthy and loved.
“Pride Month is a reminder of that truth. And a recognition of the struggles the LGBTQ+ community had to face, not just for mere tolerance, but for true acceptance and celebration. It’s time to stand up with PRIDE!”
Lara and Janice echoed her thoughts.
“It’s important to me because I believe everyone has the right to feel safe, seen, and respected,” Mapaye said.
For her part, Fuensalida said that it’s all about being kind and standing up for acceptance. “Everyone deserves to feel proud of who they are, and I believe workplaces should be places where people don’t have to hide any part of themselves.”
Celebration Through Action
The three agreed that celebrating Pride Month should go beyond mere slogans. They each shared their own little way of promoting equality through action.
As the Head of Marketing, De Leon said that she always welcomes ideas from every member of her team, regardless of who they are. “I believe the weirder the idea, the better!” she mused. “Weird ideas come from our own weirdness – and I’m all for a space where people can bring the good type of weirdness!”
Fuensalida had the same view. She, as an HR Manager, stressed the importance of listening to everyone in the team. “I try to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. That means listening carefully, speaking up against unfairness, and making sure our policies support everyone equally.”
Meanwhile, Mapaye said that she prefers to lead by example. “As a Finance Manager, I lead by example by fostering a respectful and inclusive team culture where everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves.”
All three agreed that celebrating Pride should not be just a one-month event and that everyone should be ready to do their part in welcoming everyone and promoting diversity.
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