Celebrating Pride Month: Four perspectives on authenticity and inclusion

 Q: How has your identity influenced your perspective, leadership style, or career journey?

“Being part of the LGBTQ+ community taught me how much energy it takes to hold part of yourself back at work, and how much people give when they don’t have to.

That’s why I try to stay curious and make it easy for people to speak up, because I’ve found that the best ideas usually come from someone feeling safe enough to say the thing they weren’t sure they should.”

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator 

“Early in my career, I was told to be ‘less gay.’ Learning to operate while holding part of myself back taught me a lot about reading a room, building trust carefully, and meeting people where they are. But the biggest shift is that I no longer spend energy worrying about how I am coming off as a gay person. That focus now goes where it belongs: into the work, my team, and the relationships that move things forward.”

— Steven Sweet, Director 

Early in my career, being open about who I was didn’t feel like an option, so I spent a lot of time keeping parts of my life separate. Over time, as I grew more comfortable with myself and built a life surrounded by people who supported me, that changed, both personally and professionally.

The experience gave me empathy and a deep belief that everyone is carrying something. I may not always understand exactly what someone is going through, but I can listen, create space, and make sure people feel seen.

It also built my resilience. Consulting demands thick skin, adaptability, and perseverance, and I hope my experiences have helped me strike the right balance: supporting people while helping them build the confidence they need to succeed.

— Dan Farrugia, Managing Director 

Q: What does an inclusive workplace look like to you? 

“An inclusive workplace is one where people don’t have to spend energy deciding which parts of themselves are safe to share. It’s a place where everyone feels heard and empowered to contribute, regardless of their background or identity. When people feel they belong, they stop holding back.” 

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator

“It is a place where who you are is a non-event and what you deliver is the conversation. Inclusion is not a banner; it is the everyday experience of being judged on your skills, your commitment, and your client relationships. The best teams I have been on drew from diverse backgrounds, and that range kept us from falling into groupthink. Inclusive workplaces produce better work because the best deliverables rarely come from one type of person.” 

— Steven Sweet, Director

Q: What is one thing you wish more people understood about the LGBTQ+ experience in the workplace? 

“That the energy spent hiding is energy taken away from the job. When someone is monitoring their voice, editing their stories, or keeping their personal life walled off, they are doing two jobs at once. Most people never see that second job. When a workplace removes the need for it, you usually get someone’s best work, not a watered-down version.” 

— Steven Sweet, Director

“Coming out isn’t a single moment, it happens many times throughout your life and career. As relationships deepen, people ask about your weekend, your partner, your family. Normal moments of connection, but for many LGBTQ+ people there’s still a beat where you wonder, ‘Will this change how they see me?’  Even after years of being comfortable with myself, I’d be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind. 

What I’ve learned is that authenticity lets people see the person behind the label, and being open has likely shifted how some people view the LGBTQ+ community, simply because they got to know the real me. That honesty builds deeper trust than holding myself back ever could.” 

— Dan Farrugia, Managing Director 

“How much visible allyship matters. It’s often the difference in whether someone feels they can relax and just be themselves. When you’re not quietly wondering whether you’ll be accepted, that energy goes back into the actual work and the people around you.”

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator 

Q: How has being your authentic self at work helped you build relationships with colleagues and clients? 

“For a long time, I understood that being open about who I was helped me build stronger relationships, but I didn’t fully appreciate the impact it had on the people around me. When I left my previous company, two people thanked me for simply being myself. It reminded me that how we show up every day can affect others in ways we don’t always see. 

We spent years working through difficult projects and long days, but when people reflected on our time together, they didn’t talk about the work or the outcomes. They talked about the human moments, when I showed genuine interest in who they were outside of work. 

Being open created deeper connections for me, and hopefully helped others feel comfortable doing the same.”

— Dan Farrugia, Managing Director

“When I am not managing a version of myself, conversations with clients and colleagues are more natural and more direct, and that carries into how we solve problems together. People connect with you over a shared meal or a real conversation, and being open lets more of those connections happen.”

— Steven Sweet, Director

Q: How does Accordion make you feel enabled to bring your most authentic self to work every day? 

“Accordion has created an environment where I felt comfortable being myself from the beginning, and an environment where people can feel supported wherever they are on their own journey. 

When I joined, it was the first time in ten years I was new at a company, and the first time I started somewhere already confident bringing my authentic self from day one. What stood out was how genuinely interested people were in getting to know me. Not just my background, but who I am as a person. 

I recognize that getting there was a journey. It took years to build that confidence, and everyone deserves to move at their own pace. Earlier in my career, I thought keeping parts of myself separate made things easier. Over time, I realized that living in half-truths only created distance with people who were genuinely trying to connect.” 

— Dan Farrugia, Managing Director

“My colleagues at the Boston office make me feel supported and valued every single day. 

There’s something special about having a local community of teammates who make that support visible in everyday interactions.”

— Cara Colotti, Vice President

Q: Can you share a moment when you’ve felt a strong sense of belonging at Accordion?   

“In January, I got married, and I felt comfortable sharing wedding photos on the company Slack channel and with a few clients who asked to see them. That kind of openness in a workplace is rarer than it should be. 

What stayed with me most was the response. Accordion colleagues across the globe celebrated with me, and several said it inspired them to bring more of themselves to work, even if they are not fully out yet. Seeing that ripple was one of the moments I knew I belonged here.”

— Steven Sweet, Director

“When colleagues took the time to check in during periods that felt particularly stressful or uncertain for the LGBTQ+ community. Knowing that people were paying attention and reached out to acknowledge what was happening – and to show they cared – made a real difference.” 

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator

“It’s the little moments between colleagues that have helped me feel a strong sense of belonging at Accordion. Namely, at last year’s holiday party, my colleagues welcomed my partner with open arms and made it a point to make her feel included.”

— Cara Colotti, Vice President

Q: What advice would you give a member of the LGBTQ+ community who is starting out in their career? 

“Focus on building relationships with people who value your perspective and appreciate what makes you unique. The qualities that might make you feel different can also become some of your greatest strengths. And remember that there isn’t one right way to be part of the LGBTQ+ community at work. Show up in the way that feels right for you, and trust that your perspective has value.” 

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator

“Let your work speak first and trust that the right environment will value all of you. You may not control every room early on, and that is okay. Focus on being excellent and finding the places that support you for far more than who you are. They exist, and they are worth finding. And if you are not ready to be fully open yet, that is completely valid. There is no single timeline.” 

— Steven Sweet, Director

“I would never tell someone there is a right time or a right way to share who they are because I know from my own experience that everyone’s journey is different.  

What I would tell someone starting out is to give yourself the time and space to figure out who you are and what feels right for you. But also know that the things that make you different may become some of the things that make you stronger. 

For me, being open about my life has allowed me to build deeper relationships and spend less energy worrying about what people may think. That energy is better spent being present: for my clients, my colleagues, my family, and the people around me.” 

— Dan Farrugia, Managing Director

Q: What is one thing you hope your colleagues take away from hearing these stories? 

“That I appreciate all of the little ways they show up for me, and I hope we can continue to extend that to others within the community.”

— Cara Colotti, Vice President

“That while we all share a lot in common at work, we each bring different life experiences and perspectives outside of it. Those differences shape how we see the world and what we may notice or think about in different moments.

A little awareness and empathy for that can make a big difference in how connected and supported people feel.”  

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator

“That you do not have to be out or be anything in particular to belong here; you are welcomed and valued for the full range of what you bring. I hope anyone who reads this and does not yet feel comfortable being themselves knows that support is here when they want it, on their terms.”

— Steven Sweet, Director

Q: What makes you most proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community?   

“I’m proud of the progress, and the people who made it possible. I have watched the courts and the public move toward supporting not just the gay community but everyone in smaller communities who deserve the same dignity. Being able to be myself at work is something earlier generations fought for, and I do not take it for granted. Carrying that forward and making it a little easier for the next person is what I am most proud of.”

— Steven Sweet, Director

“I’m proud of the people who never stop fighting for the rights and wellbeing for the members of the community. I’m proud of where we’ve been, I’m proud of where we are, and I’m proud of where we are going.”

— Cara Colotti, Vice President

“I’m proud of how we show up for each other and how quick we are to spot a moment to make someone feel included. And I’m proud to belong to a community that’s resilient enough to celebrate every small win on the way to the big ones.”

— Kelsey McQuality, Associate, Learning Administrator