Paving the Way for India’s LGBTQ+ Workforce
Interviews
At JPMorgan Chase, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is a full-time job. The company recognizes its LGBTQ+ employees and the community’s contributions to our society during Pride Month in June. Yet, when it comes to advancing LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion, they take an always-on approach for their LGBTQ+ employees, customers, clients and communities 365 days a year.
We spoke with two leaders of the firm’s PRIDE Business Resource Group chapter in India about what Pride Month means to them, how they’re helping transgender employees thrive and what they’re most proud of so far in 2023.
Tell us about yourself and your role at JPMorgan Chase.
Ira Pandey (Left): My name is Ira Pandey and I’m a Program Manager helping to drive product enablement for the Employee Digital & Service Experience team in India.
Vasudha Parmeshwar (Right): I’m Vasudha Parmeshwar and I’m also part of the Employee Digital & Service Experience team. My role primarily involves working along with the service delivery, product and technology teams to deliver projects on a global scale. My other role is being a part of the firm’s PRIDE Business Resource Group for LGBTQ+ and ally employees. I’ve had the privilege of driving initiatives and events, such as JPMorgan Chase’s first Pride march in India.
What does Pride Month means to you? Why it is important?
Vasudha Parmeshwar: For me, Pride is about taking back everything the world has taken from the LGBTQ+ community, and owning it. It’s a celebration of people being proud of who they are and making no apologies for how they choose to express themselves. Even as an ally, it’s a privilege to see people, many of whom have faced discrimination and harassment, still move on stronger and demand the dignity and respect they deserve.
Ira Pandey: Pride means being proud of who you are, without worrying what others think of you. I want to spread awareness that if we all work to be respectful of the people around us, we can eventually build a more inclusive world for everyone. It could be as simple as asking someone about their preferred pronouns when you first meet. It gives people an opportunity to share with you their true identity and feel accepted and acknowledged for who they truly are.
Everyone deserves to live in a world without discrimination. How is JPMorgan Chase is making this a reality?
Vasudha Parmeshwar: JPMorgan Chase enables members of the community to be themselves at work. India, being a fairly conservative country, is still not a place where LGBTQ+ people always feel comfortable to come out. JPMorgan Chase respects the choice of the employees who aren’t yet comfortable, while creating space for employees who are out to engage with resources and events as much as possible. This includes giving employees a platform and encouraging them to share their stories, both internally and externally.
Ira Pandey: I’ve realized in my 3 years of experience at JPMorgan Chase that the diversity in thought, as well as our acquired diversity in terms of our experiences, skills and talent is valued. A major part of our experience is fueled by our background and it is amazing to meet and work with colleagues who bring in different perspectives because of that. A diverse work group enhances our work experience in terms of learning from and about the journeys of different colleagues. JPMorgan Chase continually strives to build a diverse workforce and also drive inclusion through the Business Resource Groups and the various initiatives led by them, building a welcoming environment where one can bring their complete selves to work.
What have been the most important accomplishments for you this year?
Ira Pandey: We had our second cohort of interns join us for REVIVE – our residential corporate training program for transgender talent, which we lead in partnership with Chennai-based nonprofit PeriFerry. In India, the discrimination, lack of family support and societal acceptance of transgender people has led to a lot of hardships, especially when its comes to seeking employment opportunities. Through this internship, we are taking a step towards supporting the transgender community and are providing a safe space for them to bring their complete selves to work and be out and proud.
Vasudha Parmeshwar: In addition to PeriFerry, we hosted Proud To Be, a first-of-its-kind campus recruiting event in India where over 60 college students from the LGBTQ+ community visited our offices and met with local leaders. It was an opportunity for them to see what it’s like to work at JPMorgan Chase and witness firsthand our inclusive culture of respect, equity and inclusion.
What sets the PeriFerry Internship Program apart from other pipeline hiring programs for the LGBTQ+ community?
Ira Pandey: One main aspect which sets the program apart is that having a degree is not a requirement. Considering the inadequate opportunities for education that many people from the transgender community get, this program provides opportunities to people who have the skillsets we’re looking for regardless of their education.
Vasudha Parmeshwar: The program provides a holistic focus on creating sustainable livelihoods for participants. Not only do interns get on-the-job training at JPMorgan Chase, but they go through an initial eight-week classroom training with PeriFerry. This sets them up with essential tools and best practices for operating in a corporate environment so that once they then enter the workforce, they are much better equipped to learn their specific roles and assimilate into their teams. Interns also have a chance to connect with previous interns – most of whom have become full-time hires at JPMorgan Chase - to learn from their experiences. Overall, we’re committed to creating a platform where members of the transgender community can showcase their talent and advance in their careers.
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