​This month, we are amplifying the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, talking about their career journey and what pride month means to them. HI,

HI, I’M JULIAN! AS A SENIOR QUALITY ENGINEER AT SALESFORCE, I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE OUR NONPROFIT AND EDUCATION PRODUCTS ARE ACCESSIBLE, CUSTOMER-CENTRIC, AND AS CLOSE TO BUG-FREE AS POSSIBLE. AFTER FLUNKING OUT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, I ENDED UP GRADUATING WITH AN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES DEGREE. MY CAREER STARTED AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER IN SOUTH KOREA WORKING WITH NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS. LATER, AT A NONPROFIT CALLED LIBERTY IN NORTH KOREA, I FOUND MY PASSION FOR SOCIAL GOOD AND TECHNOLOGY COLLIDING AS A SALESFORCE ADMIN.

PRIDE, FOR ME, IS ALL ABOUT HUMAN CONNECTION. I TRY AND TAKE SOME TIME EVERY YEAR TO REMEMBER IT’S THE BEST TIME TO REACH OUT TO THOSE THAT I FEEL SAFE AROUND BUT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH. AS A BLACK, GAY CHRISTIAN WHO GREW UP AT A CHINESE CHURCH AND HAS AN EATING DISORDER AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY, I’M USED TO NOT ALWAYS BEING COMFORTABLE. I LOVE CELEBRATING WITH THOSE THAT LOVE ME, BUT MY HOPE AND PRAYER ARE THAT OTHERS WHO MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND ME WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO ENTER INTO A SPACE OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.