In the third installment of Superpowers at Work, a new podcast from Siero Media, host Sissy Siero engages in a candid and insightful conversation with Brandon Jerrod, an artist, musician, and tech specialist. Brandon, who uses they/them pronouns, shares their experiences as a queer, black, and non-binary individual, shedding light on the importance of inclusive language and its impact on their sense of belonging in various workplaces.

“I am black, fat, queer, all the above. And an artist, a creative, a dork. Yeah, here I am,” says Brandon. 

This episode highlights the importance and significance of using inclusive language to foster a culture of respect and belonging. Sissy emphasizes the courage it takes to be transparent about personal experiences and how powerful vulnerability, authenticity, and transparency are in a workplace. 

Brandon describes their diverse interests, from being a classically trained trombonist to enjoying video games and delving into sci-fi and fantasy. Together, Sissy and Brandon unpack their common ground as musicians and how meaningful a background in music has been to their sense of self and understanding of creativity. 

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Brandon discusses the challenges they face as a hyper-marginalized individual. “I walk through the world knowing that there's very few places where I'm going to experience belonging…Me being so hyper marginalized, you know, like, I'm not only queer and feminine and a non-binary person, but you add the extra layer of me also being black and being dark skinned… It creates a very unique experience where I'm hyper-visible and also invisible at the same time,” says Brandon. 

Brandon opens up about the struggle to find true belonging, even within communities that share aspects of their identity. This highlights why having an understanding of intersectionality is so essential when approaching how to create spaces of belonging and inclusivity. 

They also share the struggle of having their pronouns, they/them, consistently misused in a conservative work environment. Despite subtle corrections, they express the internal and external challenges of being consistently misgendered. “I even put they/them after my name as that extra, you know, a visual cue of whenever you're referring to me, try to use these pronouns. I get “sir’d” and “he'd” like all day,” says Brandon. 

Rather than creating a space that recognizes and respects one’s preferred pronouns, some workplaces have created spaces where, even with self-advocacy and constant reminders, disrespect remains rampant, and preferred pronouns go unacknowledged. This can signal a greater lack of acknowledgment and disregard for the individual, going from frustrating to exhausting to excruciating over days, weeks, and months. 

Drawing from personal experiences in HR and management, Brandon underscores the significance of empathy in leadership. They advocate for leaders to understand and embrace the diverse experiences of their team members, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

One example Brandon shares about challenging outdated policies is challenging a drug testing policy that proved discriminatory towards transgender individuals. Their advocacy serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for inclusivity and the need to challenge systems perpetuating discrimination.

Emphasizing the role of empathy and understanding in creating an inclusive workplace, Brandon shares strategies for cultivating an environment where team members feel empowered and supported, ultimately contributing to improved performance and overall happiness.

“It is so important to lead with empathy and understanding. Whenever I actually have the power in my title, I know and see it as a responsibility to wield it to where I'm creating space for not just me to ascend and to have power or to get my bonus but for the people that I'm leading to be happy because when they're happier, they're going to perform better,” says Brandon. This is just one more reminder about how intentionally creating spaces of belonging and inclusion, leading with curiosity and kindness, respect and empathy, create workplaces that can truly thrive - happy employees, increased productivity, and greater retention. 

This conversation served as a reminder of the ongoing work required to create truly inclusive workplaces where diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated.

In the complex landscape of intersectionality, the team at Siero Media hopes that Superpowers at Work continues to provide a platform for crucial discussions on inclusivity, respect, and the power of empathy in fostering positive workplace cultures.

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