At HARMAN, we know we are better, smarter and stronger when we create a more diverse and inclusive workplace that enables our people to bring their authentic selves to work every day. With Pride month here, people all over the world are exploring, discussing, and celebrating what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. In our workplace, we value and encourage authenticity and acceptance every day, qualities that are essential to helping us build the cutting-edge connected technologies that our customers have trusted for over several decades.

As a global technology leader setting the standard for our peers across the industry, we’re coordinating employee education activities, regional events and open discussions to keep advancing on our purpose of creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Here are some of the ways we are celebrating PRIDE month at HARMAN:

Uncovering Identities & Understanding Pronouns

We invited author and teacher Neema Avarshira on June 7th to speak to our employees about her empowering, deeply informative essay, “Untangling Identities: How a Haircut Helped me Untangle my Identity as a Queer Indian Woman.” She spoke of her upbringing, her decision to come out as a Queer woman and how it put her at odds with both her family and her culture. Shedding light on these stories and sharing them on a large stage took courage and we’re so grateful to Neema for sharing hers with the HARMAN family.

We hosted a Fireside Chat with Kim Iannucci and Barbara Davis, two LBGTQ+ allies within the HARMAN family, who have long advocated for ways in which allies can lend their support to the community.

We also heard from Stephen McMahon, Community Engagement Coordinator at The Loft Community Center located in White Plains, NY, who enlightened us about pronouns and neo-pronouns, how you communicate who you are to others, how language matters, gender identity and gender expression, and many other interesting topics. 

Initiatives Demonstrating HARMAN Pride

We’re hosting our own HARMAN people-led events this month too. We’re kicking off our DE&I Coffee Chat Series with our own Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Corporate Functions, Lorena Loya. Along with ERG chapter leaders from our key markets such as the United States, India and Europe, she’ll discuss how ERGs are working to strengthen DE&I culture across our organization. We’re also hosting a fireside chat with Kim Iannucci and Barbara Davis, two LBGTQ+ allies within the HARMAN family, who have long advocated for ways in which allies can lend their support to the community. In that vein, and all month long, HARMAN employees will have access to educational and supportive content “On the Pride” page of our employee intranet, the HARMAN Hub, featuring virtual lessons such as, “Who is an LGBTQ+ Ally and Why are They Important?”, “What to do When Someone “Comes Out” to You,” “Steps to be a Trans Ally,” and more.

HARMAN's newest Employee Resource Group, HARMAN Pride, is launching with multiple chapters and executive sponsorship.

This ERG will collaborate with HARMAN leaders and employees to offer learning resources, foster awareness, and identify allies to support our LGBTQ+ community at HARMAN to ensure we are building a safe environment where everyone can bring their whole self to work. There are currently several chapters being established in the US, Mexico, and India.

At HARMAN, our people are surely our greatest asset and we’re working hard to ensure that everyone at our organization is comfortable, supported and excited to bring their best, fullest selves to work every day. We believe that when our people are understood, embraced, and celebrated, they are empowered to unlock the innovations that make us the leader that we are today. With help from our peers, our people and our communities, we are devoted to continuing on the path to being the most inclusive, accepting and supportive company we can be.