As part of the LGBTQ+ history month celebrations, we’re sharing our pride by spotlighting members of our MiroQueer community and sharing their stories, experiences, and visions of an inclusive workplace.
Today we’re joined by Dave Nel, our Enablement Lead across the EMEA region and a member of our MiroQueer Community.
Hi, my name is Dave and I am originally from South Africa. I consider myself to be a people person. I feed off the energy of others, and I draw my energy from watching people tap into their strengths. For me, swimming is my escape from the hustle and bustle of life. As an avid traveler, I decided to take a leap and move to Amsterdam to join the Miro family three months ago.
Finding my place in Miro’s culture
Miro is an interesting melting pot of cultures and talents. We are supported by a very flexible structure, low hierarchy, and open culture. This diversity goes a long way in making me feel I can be myself at Miro.
At Miro, I don’t feel put into a box. I am Dave, and I am a Mironeer. I am a coach. I am a competitive swimmer. And, I am gay. Your sexuality and ethnicity are part of you, but it does not define you.
I feel that my voice is being heard. At Miro, we embrace honest feedback and open dialogue — values that are embedded in our processes and meetings. Plus, the organization is aware that people contribute and come alive by sharing. We have different forums that support people sharing, encouraging each other, and discussing important topics.
One of these forums is the MiroQueer community, which is one of our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Personally, I like that the group is driven by Mironeers and doesn’t come from the management. In the MiroQueer Slack channel, we discuss various topics, ranging from but certainly not limited to: diversity and inclusion, employee rights, events and activities, and Miro culture and values, and welcome people to bring all viewpoints to the table. It is really important for me that the organization listens to the employees and that management leads by example. I see a healthy combination of both here at Miro.
Coaching is my life’s passion
I’m passionate about helping others access their true potential. I believe this comes from my competitive swimming background, where I have been coached to tap into my own strengths.
My favorite event is the 400m individual medley, but I also really enjoy open water swimming.
That combined with my leadership experience led me to become an international business and professional coach. I help people set goals, take action, make intrinsic decisions, and use their natural strengths. Miro also supports personal growth by offering access to coaches, and I welcomed the opportunity to provide my coaching services to my colleagues. I find it very rewarding, and I am happy to put my passion to use.
Another experience that has significantly influenced my personal journey has been working as a trustee at the Pride Shelter Trust in Cape Town, the only formal LGBTQ+ shelter in Africa. The shelter provides short-term accommodation to the LGBTQ+ minority groups during crisis periods. The objectives of the Pride Shelter are to promote dignity, respect, and a sense of personal empowerment among members of the community. In reality, except for South Africa and Cape Verde, LGBTQ+ rights are somewhat limited, and close to nonexistent in Africa. In some countries, homosexuality is punishable by death or life imprisonment. In others, people use corrective rape, or individuals are often cast out into the streets without support or resources. On account of the large African population, the outdated mentality, and the limited support services, the Pride Shelter Trust has been extremely popular.
Working at the shelter was a soul-crushing, yet eye-opening experience. I learned that you can’t live other people’s stories for them. In the end, what matters is giving others dignity and chances to move forward. This experience is transferable to workplaces and how work environments can have a positive or negative impact on people. I believe that organizations should practice empathy and provide space for individuals to express and show their authentic selves. It’s important to remember that it is not easy for everyone to be themselves, and by providing supportive structures, such as ERGs like MiroQueers, we can significantly increase the well-being of others.
Supporting LGBTQ+ spouses and moving all kinds of families
Another example of Miro’s supportive structure is the relocation process. It was a massive decision for me to move to the Netherlands after working 17 years for my previous employer. I was also moving countries along with my life partner of 15 years, my husband. Miro did a fantastic job moving and transitioning my family and our lives to the Netherlands. From the start, my husband was included in the decision process, and we both were on the same page concerning the expectations. Not only did everything go smoothly, but we were also considered a family unit and treated like one during the whole process.
Since Miro is committed to strengthening our policies and practices to be more LGBTQ+ inclusive, I would love to have more events or after-work functions inclusive of our spouses. I believe it helps both with bringing our genuine selves to work and for our partners to feel included in our new environment. Simultaneously reviewing and updating our people processes to support what employees care about should always be brewing, and I’m glad to be part of ensuring that this work continues to happen at Miro.
