Celebrating Pride at Dyson

Great minds don’t think alike. And it takes all kinds of minds to make Dyson machines so unique. Throughout history, the engineers and scientists who have embraced different and new ways of thinking have been able to make breakthroughs in their field. In fact, true innovation comes from radically reinventing what has come before, engaging with different points of view, and finding new ways to solve problems.

Engineers are the world’s problem solvers, but we continue to face a global shortfall of engineers[1]. Failing to address this problem will stall vital innovation that could solve some of the global issues faced today. Despite this urgent need for engineering talent, research suggests that the LGTBQ+ community is often underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, by roughly 20%[2]. 28% of LGBTQ+ people in the UK and Ireland have at some point considered leaving their jobs in STEM because of a hostile workplace or discrimination towards them[3].

At Dyson, we’re proud to celebrate our people, from all backgrounds. Every year, Dyson people around the world attend and support Pride Events local to their communities through our internal PROUD Network. In 2023, Dyson will take part in Bristol, Toronto, Amsterdam, and Cologne celebrations, among other global events. We look forward to sharing more across the coming months.

To kick the celebrations off, we shine a light on the LGBTQ+ community at Dyson in an interview with ten of the members of Dyson’s employee-led global PROUD Network.

Senior Compliance and Approvals Regulatory Specialist

Pronouns: she|her|hers

Sammantha has worked at Dyson for almost nine years. Her day-to-day involves determining the applicable laws and regulations that apply to Dyson machines in the markets in which they’re sold around the world, which informs the design of some of our technology. 

Outside of Dyson she has been active in the LGBTQ+ community for several years; has previously given evidence to The Women and Equalities parliamentary committee on LGBT+ Healthcare; is involved in the current UK campaign against conversion therapy and previously sat on the Joint Strategic Advisory Group for Gender Responsive Standards for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

What challenges do the LGBTQ+ community face in engineering?

Engineering can still be a hard place to be, especially as a woman, let alone when you add being LGBTQ+ on top of that. In some workplaces, there can still be a “boys club” attitude, and in my view every initiative to move away from that culture is a step in the right direction towards more inclusivity and innovation.

What motivated you to join and help run the Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network? What are some of the initiatives you’ve driven?

I actually got into it accidentally! I started organising panel talks and events in 2018 and really enjoyed it. I have now been officially helping to run the global network since the beginning of 2019.

I co-developed the current Gender Identity and Expression Policy, which was launched to coincide with Trans Day of Visibility in 2020, so that anyone who transitions has a framework to help guide them and their manager.

Marketplace eCommerce Operations Manager

Pronouns: she|her

Morgan began her career at Dyson as a temp in January 2017 and started full time as Marketplace Online Specialist in July 2017. She quickly established herself as an advocate for owners and a much-needed subject matter expert. In 2019, Morgan moved to the Direct team as a Senior Account Management Specialist, managing Marketplace channels. She was promoted to Associate Marketplace eCommerce Manager in 2021. In 2023, Morgan then took on a new challenge as Marketplace eCommerce Operations Manager.

What would you say to young people from the LGBTQ+ community considering a career at Dyson?

Grow where you are allowed to be your full authentic self. Dyson is a place that’s never satisfied with being second and not leading the way. I feel like the employees here embody that in their day-to-day. Diversity of thought, opinion and experience is so important. We need more individuals who embrace their own differences, not hide them in the workplace.

What inspires you about working at Dyson?

This place is never satisfied, and neither am I. I wanted to work for a company where I am always learning, and every day is new. In my six years here, I don’t think two days have ever been the same. I also know I am heard here and that is so important to me.

Flagship Store Manager

Pronouns: he|him

Kevin started his journey with Dyson a little over five years ago as Assistant Store People Manager at the global flagship store. Since then, he has helped onboard new hires at other locations, facilitated new store openings (LA Demo Store), and nine months ago started a new position as Flagship Store Manager in New York City.

What inspired you to join Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network?

I was inspired to be a part of Dyson’s LGBTQ+ Employee Network because I wanted to be a voice for my community within the Dyson family here in the workplace. I’d never worked for a company who had this platform for our community before.

Senior Copywriter, EMEA

Pronouns: she|her

Kate joined the Dyson BeNeLux market mid-2019 and worked with the Sales and Retail team before moving into Trade Marketing. When it was announced that the EMEA CoE was moving to Amsterdam, she jumped on the opportunity to specialise as a Copywriter. And the rest is history.

What inspired you to join and help run the Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network? What are some of the initiatives you’ve driven, or you want to drive?

It’s always been important to me to participate in committee work alongside my job. The PROUD Network at The Admiral has a lot of support behind it, which means we have the potential to create real, long-lasting change. We have big plans for Pride week in Amsterdam, which we’re looking forward to sharing with the team soon.

What would you say to young people who are considering a career within Dyson?

To succeed in any Dyson role, you need an entrepreneurial spirit! Dyson trusts its employees to work hard, think differently and pursue avenues that challenge the status quo. A lot can change – and quickly, which makes it an exciting environment to be in. Dyson can also take you places, so be open to sharing your career goals and any aspirations to live and work abroad.

HR Business Partner, Iberia

Pronouns: he|him

Carlos joined Dyson six years ago in 2017 as Head of Marketing. His career could certainly be described as diverse. In 2019, Carlos moved into the position of Key Account Manager, looking after one of our biggest customers in EMEA. At the end of 2022, Carlos decided to take a new opportunity and move into the HR department. He is now acting as HR Business Partner for Iberia.

What inspired you to join Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network? What are some of the initiatives you’ve driven?

After six years working at Dyson, I had the feeling I knew the company and wanted to participate in this transformational piece. From a personal perspective, the normalisation of a gay couple with a daughter is crucial. I wanted to leave a world without LGTBQ+ bias for my daughter!

Lead Mechanical Engineer, Floorcare Design Team

Pronouns: he|him

Chris is a Lead Mechanical Engineer responsible for a range of mechanical and thermodynamic design solutions in Dyson’s floorcare products. He oversaw the testing and validation of the Dyson Omni-glide™’s unique 360-degree caster wheel design and developed heat management solutions for the Dyson V15 Detect™ vacuum’s laser fluffy head. Chris is co-chair of Dyson’s LGBTQ+ Network: PROUD. At home, he can be found using his 3D printer to design gadgets and robots in his spare time.

What inspired you to join the Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network? What are some of the initiatives you’ve driven?

About nine years ago, while drinking coffee with a colleague, we commented on how it felt odd for a company as big and influential as Dyson to not have a dedicated LGBTQ+ support network. I had previously been a member of my university’s LGBT+ society and so drew on my experience from that to go about establishing Dyson’s first D&I network! Over the years, we’ve supported and provided guidance for the creation of new workplace policies to improve the D&I experience of Dyson people and have helped to implement unconscious bias training. Next, we hope to raise Dyson’s Equality Index to better position ourselves on the Stonewall Index and promote Dyson as a diverse and equal-opportunities employer.

What would you say to young people from the LGBTQ+ community considering a career in engineering?

Even in the few years I have been in engineering, I have witnessed some monumental shifts in attitudes to diversity and inclusion for the better. There is a huge amount of national and international support for LGBTQ+ persons in engineering. While my experience has only been extremely positive and supportive at Dyson, there is still so much more we can do. 

Category Manager Floorcare, Germany

Pronouns: he|him

Dennis started as Assistant Store Manager for Germany’s first Demo Store in 2019. After only four months in the position, he was given the opportunity to lead as Store Manager. Dennis spent two years in this position, then in 2021 he was promoted to Retail Operation Manager – his first role in the Germany Headquarters. One year later, Dennis took on a new adventure and changed departments completely. He is now working as Category Manager for the largest category in Germany.

What inspired you to join Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network?

For me, it's important to show the challenges the LGBTQ+ community still faces today and what is being done around the world to stop discrimination. So together with the EMEA PROUD Network, I am working on different activities for the German market. We’re celebrating Pride month with several activities, and as a big highlight we will participate in the Pride Demonstration in Cologne, which is one of the biggest in Europe.

What would you say to young people from the LGBTQ+ community considering a career at Dyson?

This is a fun place to work. Look at my career at Dyson – all doors are open and if you have clear goals as a young person at Dyson, you have the chance to start your career and grow yourself.

Global Digital Owner Communications Specialist

Pronouns: he|him

Jack joined Dyson's UK business back in 2011, in the first full-time social media role for the company. In 2014 he took on a global role within Dyson Group to support market Contact Centre teams. Jack worked on owner engagement platforms, strategy, and processes across all digital channels, including social media, messaging apps, live chat, chat bots and video chat. Most recently, he joined the Global Content and Community Engagement team, bringing full focus back to social media engagement and advocacy.

What inspires you about engineering, technology and “problem solving”?

I grew up obsessed with appliances and gadgets – taking things apart to find out how they worked, putting them back together, repairing them for people, and collecting far more machines than I had room for. Dyson's approach to inventing is very different to all the competitors out there. We create transformational products by developing new technologies to solve age-old problems. This is very exciting to be a part of, whichever department you’re based in. I love being able to share my lifelong enthusiasm for technology through the owner communications work I do here. I love seeing the worldwide public reaction when a new product is finally unveiled!

What challenges do the LGBTQ+ community face in engineering and the workplace?

Representation is really important. It's inspiring to see others like you thriving, doing well, and having the courage to be themselves. The challenge would be working in an environment where this isn't the case. If you have to hide who you really are, you’re never going to be happy or comfortable enough to bring all of your talents and enthusiasm to your role. We all have a part to play in creating an atmosphere where everyone can be authentic and true to themselves.

Senior Mobile Development Manager

Pronouns: they|them|their

Drew has worked at Dyson for nearly six years, leading the development of the MyDyson™ mobile application. This app enables owners of Dyson machines to get the most out of Dyson technology – improving their cleaning routines and air quality around the home.

Outside of work, Drew is a busy musician, performing and recording with various bands around Oxford and London.

What inspires you about engineering, technology and “problem solving”?

I work in software and for me it’s all about people. I’m either solving a problem that improves people’s lives or allowing them to do things that they otherwise could not do! The top two things that give me satisfaction in the world of software development are: seeing real people enjoying and using something I’ve helped to build, and watching creative people at Dyson work together every day to solve new problems and create innovative technologies.

What challenges do the LGBTQ+ community face in engineering and the workplace?

I think one challenge is visibility – seeing people like ourselves in the workplace. This is a major part of being able to be our true, authentic selves at work. Some may want to keep their personal lives separate from work and that’s their choice, but there are a certain number of assumptions that do carry through into product and policy decisions.

These things are easier to change if people are visible; we can see each other and speak up in numbers. Plus, it’s been proven that having employees who are comfortable being themselves at work will improve business outcomes!

Beauty Labs & Events Manager

Pronouns: he|him|his

Demetri is the Beauty Labs & Events Manager for Dyson in the UK and the Global Subject Matter Expert in Hair Science at our Beauty Labs across the UK.

What inspires you about engineering, technology and “problem solving”?

I have a passion for problem solving and being a part of a forward-thinking company like Dyson enables me to challenge myself. From hosting events with other industry professionals in the hair care world and advocating Dyson’s hair care technology, to delivering training to new joiners at Dyson and imparting knowledge.

What inspired you to join the Dyson LGBTQ+ Employee Network?

I have always thought that change and growth comes from what we do as individuals. So if you want to be a part of change, you must help and take the first step. When I found out about our PROUD Network I wanted to join to see if I could bring any of my previous experience to the table and add value to the group. Also, I think being part of a group of people who have commonalities when you’re new to a company helps to find your feet and give you a confidence boost.

Sources

[1] https://newengineer.com/blog/overcoming-the-shortage-of-engineers-1509925

[2] https://www.stemwomen.com/lgbtq-plus-in-stem

[3] Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry (2019) Exploring the workplace